Guyana Football’s unsung hero – Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington
Guyana’s 2006/7 Digicel Caribbean Cup squad
Guyana’s 2006/7 Digicel Caribbean Cup squad

THE average Guyanese could probably break down Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s career in numbers, statistically explaining their journey to the top of the world football. But, ask anyone, who is Guyana’s all-time leading goalscorer on the international scene. There would not even be an answer in some cases.

Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington
Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington

While the names like Gordon Braithwaite, Dion Barnwell, Collie Hercules, Frank Watson, Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond, Neville Stanton and so many great Guyanese football players will be peddled around in an argument, the name Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington will hardly be mentioned; that’s unless you are a fan of Camptown Football Club.
Today, ‘Sports in 50’ reflects on the career of Guyana’s all-time goalscorer in iternational football, scoring 18 goals from 33 caps.
Almost five years ago, Codrington walked away from football in Guyana, with the now 36-year-old telling Chronicle Sport, “I couldn’t deal with all the politics and nonsense that started to come in.”
Just to shed some light on how great Codrington’s 18 goals are and why he should be remembered. Currently, one of Canada’s greatest players, Alex Bunbury, is in Guyana. Bunbury is Guyanese by birth and migrated to Canada when he was nine years-old.
No pun intended (to Alex Bunbury), but in 65 appearances for Canada, the dapper striker only managed 16 international goals.
Canada’s all-time leading goalscorer (internationally) is Dwayne De Rosario, who is also born to Guyanese parents. De Rosario scored 22 goals in 81 appearances for Canada.
Codrington had 33 caps for Guyana to reach his landmark.
In fact, Codrington scored 10 of his international goals in 2006, becoming the first Guyanese to score that much in a single calendar year. Barnwell, the former Thomas United forward, had seven (in 1987).
Some might argue that Barnwell was a cut above Codrington, since he was only 17 years old at the time of his accomplishment.
“Sometimes I wish if I had played a little longer,” Codrington said, speaking from his New Jersey home.
“No disrespect to the guys playing for Guyana now and before my time, but I think I played with the best players Guyana had to offer,” Codrington opined.
Codrington recalled his 2006/7 National team squad that had the likes of Richardson, captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, Howard Lowe, Sean Bishop, Leslie Holligan, Randolph ‘Black Head’ Jerome, Collie Hercules, Kayode McKinnon, Richard Reynolds, Walter Moore, JP Rodrigues and Anthony Abrams.
“To me that was our best chance of reaching the (CONCACAF) Gold Cup,” said the former Sunburst Camptown player.

Nigel Codrington having his way with the Guadeloupe defence at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, in the 2006/7 Digicel Caribbean Cup.
Nigel Codrington having his way with the Guadeloupe defence at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, in the 2006/7 Digicel Caribbean Cup.

The 2007 CFU Caribbean Cup was said to be Guyana’s best showing.
With Jamaal Shabazz as the coach, the Charles Pollard-captained side played undefeated in Group I with wins over Antigua and Barbuda (6-0), Dominican Republic (2-0) and Guadeloupe (3-2) in the French Island of Martinique.
In the final group stage which would have determined the CFU’s representatives at the 2006/7 Gold Cup, Guyana were placed alongside Cuba, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Guadeloupe.
However, Shabazz’s men fell 2-0 to the Vincentians, defeated Guadeloupe 4-3 but in a game where they needed to win, Guyana played to a goalless draw against the Cubans, missing out on the Gold Cup on goal average.
Codrington finished the tournament with the Golden Boot Award as the highest goalscorer, netting 11 goals.

Nigel Codrington’s International goals in numerical order:
Goal #1 vs Barbados on debut at GCC Bourda 2001: International friendly
Goal #2 vs Dominica at MSC, Linden 2005: International Friendly.
Goal #3 vs Antigua and Barbuda MSC, Linden April 26, 2006: International friendly.
Goal #4 vs St Lucia – GFC July 31 2006: International Friendly.
Goal #5 & 6 vs Suriname; Ergilio Hato Stadium Willemstad, Curacao: Digicel Caribbean Cup 2006.
Goal #7 & 8 vs Netherland Ergilio Hato Stadium Willemstad, Curacao: Digicel Caribbean Cup 2006
Goal #9 vs Antigua and Barbuda November 24 GCC: 2006 Group H play offs Digicel Caribbean Cup.
Goal #10 & 11 vs Guadeloupe GCC November 26: 2006 Group H Play offs Digicel Caribbean Cup
Goal #12 vs Dominican Republic GCC November 28: Group H Play offs Digicel Caribbean Cup.
Goal #13, 14 &15 vs Guadeloupe: Digicel Cup final Trinidad and Tobago 2007
Goal #16 vs. Suriname Guyana National Stadium: World Cup Qualifier 2008
Goal #17 & 18 vs Dominica, Guyana National Stadium: 2008 Digicel Cup Preliminaries.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.