Coach says ‘Jackie Chan’ grooving in well in the MLS

By Rawle Toney

It’s been almost one month since Guyana’s ace striker Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson has been plying his trade in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the Colorado Rapids in the United States, and for the first time coach of the team Gary Smith spoke with Stabroek Sport exclusively about his new player.

Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson
Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson

Smith said it is Richardson’s talent that landed him a spot in the team in the first place and he then outlined his personal observation of the player. “I think the plusses for Gregory are that he is a very gifted player and a talented footballer. He certainly has a lot of disguise in his game. He wants to be on the ball. He wants to be involved in possession. And he has shown already that he is a capable player on the ball,” Smith said.

He noted, however, that the downside for Richardson is the physical demands of the MLS and the fast transformation the striker would have to make.
Change culturally

“My concern is him having to change culturally from an environment where he is probably quite laid back. He is probably being asked to do things that he has never been asked before and train in ways he has never before. He does have a job description here and I think it will take him some time to get used to that along with everything else.”

The Rapids coach said further, “I think it will take some time but Gregory is adjusting fine. I believe he has made a reasonable bond with one of our other forwards, Omar Cummings, and I am not surprised given they are from similar parts of the world. I would expect over time he will settle in just fine.”

The Colorado-based club has played two games so far this season, winning one and  losing the other. Richardson has only featured in one game so far in the MLS but he has certainly made his presence felt in the side.  He scored a double in his side’s 6-0 win over Metro State Roadrunners during their preparation for the beginning of the MLS season.

Today, `Jackie Chan’ will be aiming to take the pitch when his side faces the famous LA Galaxy, which has among its players England’s star midfielder David Beckham.

However, Beckham will be a no-show for the club since he is on a stint with Italian side AC Milan, but Richardson will have his first opportunity to match skills with the likes of the USA’s most popular soccer player Landon Donovan.

Richardson with his one-year contract with the Rapids has become the first Guyanese to play in the MLS.

The MLS deal nets the star striker US$75,000, including a signing bonus. Terms for additional incentives are also included in the contract should Richardson pick up club and league awards such as MVPs, and MLS All-Star selections.

Richardson broke into prominence during last year’s CONCACAF champions league with his former club, Joe Public FC of Trinidad and Tobago when he single-handedly destroyed MLS top club New England Revolution by scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 4-0 win.

His last game on home soil was against Camptown in the finals of 2008/9 Kashif and Shanghai tournament where he helped to  propel them to the championship.