Rivoli looking to cash-in on Hodges

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

National striker Devon Hodges is currently in Asia on a two-week trial stint with Vietnamses Premier League club, Song Lam Nghe An.

Ansel Smart, general manager of Rivoli United, the team Hodges represented in the Digicel Premier League last season, told The Gleaner in an interview yesterday that the trial has gone well so far.

"This is another big opportunity for Hodges as time is running out on him to secure an overseas contract because he is getting older as time passes by," said Smart.

"This is also a good chance for him to go further in his football career and to secure an overseas contract so that he will be able to provide for his family," he said.

Rivoli United were demoted from the Digicel Premier League last season and according to Smart, this has left a huge hole in their budget ahead of their participation in the lower division South Central Confederation Super League.

"This will be a big step forward for Rivoli based on where we are now, due to the fact that we're now playing in a league that doesn't have a title sponsor," Smart said.

"For Hodges to secure an overseas contract, it will mean that some money will be coming into the club and this will be a plus for us, with this uphill task that we have in front of us now," he added.

The prolific striker has been at Rivoli since 2004 after arriving from Wadadah.

He had a trial stint with US Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids in February, and was also the joint topscorer in the Digicel Premier League last season with 18 goals.

The 26-year-old made his international debut for Jamaica in May last year, in an international friendly against El Salvador and scored his first international goal in his second match against Panama in June.

He has so far scored two international goals for Jamaica.