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Meet Village United's star on the rise
published: Wednesday | April 2, 2008
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Village United goalkeeper Ryan Cooper ... my intention is to make a living out of this game. - contributed
WHILE MUCH of the attention has been focused on the woes of title sponsors Cash Plus, particularly since the second round of Premier League competition, another story has been unfolding.
Village United, the team which was anchored at the foot of the Cash Plus Premier League table almost from day one, has been steadily climbing up the table under the guidance of coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis.
Davis' credentials have already been established, having qualified three teams to the Premier League and also pulling off rescue acts.
When Davis took over at Village following the arrival and departure of Christopher Russell, Kendale Mercury and Fitzroy 'Johnny' Reid, not many gave them a chance of survival. The situation changed a little when he gave them their first win for the season, 2-1 over St Georges at Elliston Wakeland Centre, but it soon became clear that help was needed.
Davis found his biggest ally in Ryan Cooper, a 22-year-old native of Honduras who arrived via the transfer window in January. Cooper committed himself to the struggle immediately, declaring his intention of helping to lift the team out of the relegation zone.
"Firstly, my major objective was to help the team get out of relegation," Cooper told The Gleaner.
"Secondly, I want to gain a little bit more experience playing at this level and gradually take it from there because my intention is to make a living out of this game," added the player who earned All-American honours keeping for the university of South Carolina for four years.
Cooper was one of four over-seas-based players to join Village United but is the best integrated of the quartet. Vincentian midfielder Marrion Grant has settled in fairly well also but his countryman and fellow midfielder Sean Glynn and American forward Aaron King are still finding their feet.
Confident
Looking like he could have come from Southern St Elizabeth or on the edge of Seaford Town in Westmoreland, and sounding almost like a Jamaican, the confident Cooper blended in almost immediately.
"I studied in America for four years and in the Bay Islands they speak almost the way people speak here, so it was not difficult.
"There are a lot of people from the Caribbean in the Bay Islands and the Bay Islands were actually owned by the British at one point in time, just like Jamaica, so English basically is the primary language there," Cooper said, attempting to explain how quickly he settled in.
He added: "I don't know that I have any Jamaican relatives but it could be possible because I am from the Bay Islands and there are a lot of people from the different Caribbean islands there so it could be a possibility," said the athletic six-footer.
It did take a while though for him to fully become a part of the unit - especially the first two weeks. Once that time passed, it was smooth sailing said the man who holds a business management degree from the University of South Carolina.
Since his introduction into the team, Village have been unbeaten in eight matches. Of the eight, they have won seven and drawn one. During that time they have conceded just two goals while scoring 16.
Included in their victories are convincing wins over Waterhouse (away), Boys' Town, Tivoli Gardens, Harbour View, August Town, Seba United and, most recently, a 3-1 result over Arnett Gardens at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Village's transformation over the time included the improvement of their points tally from 13 to 35, a difference of 22. Their goal differential has improved from -8 to -2 and has seen the team climb to seventh position in the 12-team league.
Motivational powers
They now find themselves as the top team in Western Jamaica as they are ahead of Seba United by a point. Only goal difference sees St Georges keeping them out of sixth position.
The assurance of Cooper's keeping along with the motivational powers of Davis, players such as Fabian Dawkins, Lacon Brissett, Omar Allen, Ian McAnuff and captain Troy Smith have improved their games and have been finding the back of the net regularly.
So far, the journey has been good for Cooper but he had to give up an opportunity to play for his country at the Under-23 level.
"I was invited to train with the Honduras Under-23 team but I had to let that opportunity go in order to come here," said the player who also had a stint with the Loredo Heat in the American PDL.
If Cooper continues to keep at this level, he may just be able to contribute to Village's survival and improve his marketability as a professional player.
published: Wednesday | April 2, 2008
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Village United goalkeeper Ryan Cooper ... my intention is to make a living out of this game. - contributed
WHILE MUCH of the attention has been focused on the woes of title sponsors Cash Plus, particularly since the second round of Premier League competition, another story has been unfolding.
Village United, the team which was anchored at the foot of the Cash Plus Premier League table almost from day one, has been steadily climbing up the table under the guidance of coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis.
Davis' credentials have already been established, having qualified three teams to the Premier League and also pulling off rescue acts.
When Davis took over at Village following the arrival and departure of Christopher Russell, Kendale Mercury and Fitzroy 'Johnny' Reid, not many gave them a chance of survival. The situation changed a little when he gave them their first win for the season, 2-1 over St Georges at Elliston Wakeland Centre, but it soon became clear that help was needed.
Davis found his biggest ally in Ryan Cooper, a 22-year-old native of Honduras who arrived via the transfer window in January. Cooper committed himself to the struggle immediately, declaring his intention of helping to lift the team out of the relegation zone.
"Firstly, my major objective was to help the team get out of relegation," Cooper told The Gleaner.
"Secondly, I want to gain a little bit more experience playing at this level and gradually take it from there because my intention is to make a living out of this game," added the player who earned All-American honours keeping for the university of South Carolina for four years.
Cooper was one of four over-seas-based players to join Village United but is the best integrated of the quartet. Vincentian midfielder Marrion Grant has settled in fairly well also but his countryman and fellow midfielder Sean Glynn and American forward Aaron King are still finding their feet.
Confident
Looking like he could have come from Southern St Elizabeth or on the edge of Seaford Town in Westmoreland, and sounding almost like a Jamaican, the confident Cooper blended in almost immediately.
"I studied in America for four years and in the Bay Islands they speak almost the way people speak here, so it was not difficult.
"There are a lot of people from the Caribbean in the Bay Islands and the Bay Islands were actually owned by the British at one point in time, just like Jamaica, so English basically is the primary language there," Cooper said, attempting to explain how quickly he settled in.
He added: "I don't know that I have any Jamaican relatives but it could be possible because I am from the Bay Islands and there are a lot of people from the different Caribbean islands there so it could be a possibility," said the athletic six-footer.
It did take a while though for him to fully become a part of the unit - especially the first two weeks. Once that time passed, it was smooth sailing said the man who holds a business management degree from the University of South Carolina.
Since his introduction into the team, Village have been unbeaten in eight matches. Of the eight, they have won seven and drawn one. During that time they have conceded just two goals while scoring 16.
Included in their victories are convincing wins over Waterhouse (away), Boys' Town, Tivoli Gardens, Harbour View, August Town, Seba United and, most recently, a 3-1 result over Arnett Gardens at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Village's transformation over the time included the improvement of their points tally from 13 to 35, a difference of 22. Their goal differential has improved from -8 to -2 and has seen the team climb to seventh position in the 12-team league.
Motivational powers
They now find themselves as the top team in Western Jamaica as they are ahead of Seba United by a point. Only goal difference sees St Georges keeping them out of sixth position.
The assurance of Cooper's keeping along with the motivational powers of Davis, players such as Fabian Dawkins, Lacon Brissett, Omar Allen, Ian McAnuff and captain Troy Smith have improved their games and have been finding the back of the net regularly.
So far, the journey has been good for Cooper but he had to give up an opportunity to play for his country at the Under-23 level.
"I was invited to train with the Honduras Under-23 team but I had to let that opportunity go in order to come here," said the player who also had a stint with the Loredo Heat in the American PDL.
If Cooper continues to keep at this level, he may just be able to contribute to Village's survival and improve his marketability as a professional player.
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