Despite being suspended by his current employers Alpha United, Golden Jaguar international Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson is adamant that he will be playing football at the annual year-end events, even if it means suiting up for another club.
Speaking exclusively to Stabroek Sports, the dynamic attacker said “At the end of the year, I have to play football. I have to play for some team, if it’s not Alpha then it will be somebody else. It is who is playing the most money, and it’s all about money.
“I have to wait and see. If it’s personal then I know what I got to do. If they (Alpha United) taking it personal, I can take it personal,” he added.
Richardson was one of six Alpha United players recently slapped with six month suspensions by the club reportedly for acts of indiscipline.
The other players are Richie Richards, Manesseh `Ziggy’ Primo, Anthony `Natural’ Benfield, Quincy Adams and Andrew Murray Jr.
Richardson, Primo and Benfield were found guilty of abandoning the team just before its final CONCACAF Champions League match against Portland, Timbers in the United States of America.
According to media reports, the three players “defied instructions given by Coach Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover, left the hotel hours before the game against Portland Timbers to go shopping. They could not be found when the team left for the venue of the match but surfaced at the match venue long after the team arrived,” the state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper reported this week.
According to the newspaper Murray, Richards and Adams left for neighbouring Suriname without informing the club.
In an invited comment Alpha United vice president Steve Ninvalle said that the club’s executive body also serves in the capacity of the disciplinary committee and it was this body which was responsible for the suspension of the six players.
“These are serial offenders and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Some of these things were pending and after the executive met, they decided that the penalty should be given without delay.
He added that the club spared no one because of their name and status within the sport and that the relevant bodies inclusive of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and CONCACAF have been made aware of the situation and their decision.
Richardson, the only player this newspaper was able to contact said yesterday that he was unsure what was really going on and that he was not summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee which is standard practice.
“I don’t even know what is going on. They told me that I am suspended for three months and not six months. It’s just a two morning thing, it’s nothing. The boss does call me and ask me if I am ready to train. I just told him that I am not right now on that.”
Queried if he was brought before the club’s disciplinary committee or written to, he said “No! They gave me a letter and tell me to comeback. It’s nothing big, it’s just a small issue. The players in Suriname are the ones they really suspended. It’s the players in Suriname they are talking about, not us.”
Asked if he has intention of serving his suspension and returning to the team’s roster, he said:” I don’t know about that. Right now to be honest I am not on football and they killed the vibe and I just decided to ease off. Right now I am resting my groin injury and will comeback.”
In 2009 Richardson became the first Guyanese player to play major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States of America signing with the Colorado Rapids before going on to play for the Carolina Railhawks.
Quizzed if a possible return to his former club, Pele FC is on the cards, the former MLS forward said:” I don’t know I will see how it goes. It depends I will give it a couple mornings. Also I am supposed to go and play outside.”
The players will not be allowed to represent Alpha United at any sporting level whether locally and/or international.
The expected conclusion of the suspension is April 2015.
