Speid pleased with return of dangerous Hamilton
Published:Sunday | September 3, 2023 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
LAST SEASON’s beaten Jamaica Premier League (JPL) finalists, Cavalier, have brought back long-time member of the club, Nicholas ‘Kumi’ Hamilton, in a bid to bolster their offensive options.
Hamilton, who started his career at Cavalier, has enjoyed time playing on both the local and international scenes, more recently with Jacobstads BK in the Finnish League.
Rudolph Speid, technical director at Cavalier, while speaking with The Sunday Gleaner, said he was pleased with the return of Hamilton, and that it meant much to both club and player.
“We are the ones that made him (Nicholas Hamilton) as he was with us since 14 years of age. I think he would be the first choice for every club if they could have gotten him on their roster. With our budget being one hundred thousand dollars, for the last five years, and with a player like Nicholas available, it was a no-brainer,” he said.
The 27-year-old Hamilton, who previously played for Cavalier from 2014 to 2022, has also enjoyed playing for the likes of York United (Canada), Dundee United (Scotland), FF Jaro (Finland) as well as Harbour View. He’ll bring a wealth of playing experience and holds the tag of being the oldest player on the young Cavalier roster.
“After losing the likes of Collin Anderson, Dwayne Atkinson and Ronaldo Webster we had to break our club policy of getting in teenagers in the club and make an exception for Nicholas Hamilton. Of course, his experience will be vital so we’re working on his fitness to see if he can come up to the standard in which Cavalier plays at,” he explained.
Speid doesn’t foresee any major trouble reintegrating Hamilton with Cavalier’s offensive style.
VERSATILE PLAYER
“He was part of our triangular offence, long before, but he’s such a versatile player that I don’t think it’ll be an issue as he has adopted well already,” said Speid.
Having lost some of their better offensive weapons in recent times, most notably Collin Anderson, who won the golden boot last season with 20 goals, Cavalier needed a proven goalscorer, but according to Speid, there are a number of up-and-comers ready to fill the gaps.
“Yes, we lost 35 goals among three players, and although Nicholas is a known quantity, you saw that we rolled out young (Jalmaro) Calvin and he scored and set up another goal (against AC Port of Spain in Concacaf Club Championship action) and we also have our wonder kid in Christopher Ainsworth.
“People must remember he (Christopher Ainsworth) scored against Trinidad and Tobago’s national goalkeeper, Marvin Phillip, who isn’t a slouch. We have a lot of young ammunition and Nicholas will certainly make an addition.”