… Trevor Banks welcomes Nicholas McArthur to NCAA D1 football

WITH Nicholas McArthur becoming the first Guyanese to feature for Chicago State University football programme, he will certainly not be the last according to head coach Trevor Banks, who rolled out the ‘red carpet’ to welcome more players from the Land of Many Waters to the NCAA Division One institution.
McArthur, 19, who plays for Guyana’s senior men’s National team and Fruta Conquerors Football Club, will depart shortly for the ‘Windy City’ in Illinois on a full scholarship at Chicago State University, which is also one of the leading historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
Coach Banks had reached out to Canadian football legend, Guyanese Alex Bunbury, to help find a new talent from Guyana, having been impressed by what he (Banks) would’ve seen from National youth captain Jeremy Garrett (LSU Eunice) and Curtez Kellman (Daytona State College) on the junior collegiate arena.
“I had asked Alex (Bunbury) if he can find a striker for me, preferably a guy that can come and play right away, and I know he knew exactly what I meant when I said that. Where I’m at right now is that we’re in a situation where we have a full ride,” Banks said.

McArthur’s ‘full ride scholarship’ is an award that covers all expenses related with college, which includes tuition, books, fees, room and board, and possibly even living costs.
“I know that you guys (Guyana) produce high-level players and you guys (Guyana) produce high-level individuals … and I’m not worried about the culture that they’ll bring. I want to continue this relationship (with Guyana) and look forward to having more of your players to come here and play for Chicago State,” Banks noted.
Coach Banks and Chicago State University will be making their National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One football debut this season and McArthur is hoping to open doors for more players from Guyana to join him on the ‘D1’ collegiate circuit.
“This is a stepping-stone for me to leave Guyana to play football; not only football, but to study my academics, make my family proud and Guyana proud. This is something that I’ve always dreamed about, to leave this country,” an elated McArthur said.
The Fruta Conquerors winger told Chronicle Sport that an opportunity had previously presented itself for him to play collegiate football, but the lack of finances, coupled with a breakdown in other critical areas, saw the scholarship not materialising.

McArthur and the ‘Cougars’ will play in the NCAA D1 Western Athletic Conference in the 2021 season and will host their home games at the Ray and Joan Kroc Stadium in Chicago.
Banks, a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A-Senior” licensed coach, comes to Chicago State from Brown University where he was the associate head coach (2017-20) and assistant coach (2016). During his time at Brown, Banks was part of all aspects of the programme and helped develop multiple award winners on and off the field, including three players selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Team, 19 All-Ivy selections, one named to the All-New England Freshman team, multiple Academic All-Ivy selections and one United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America honouree.
A native of Carencro, Louisiana, Banks played collegiate soccer at Kentucky Wesleyan College (2006-09) where he earned a degree in communications then continued his education, earning a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from William Woods University (2010).