Unwilling striker becomes important KC weapon
Published:Wednesday | November 16, 2022 | 12:13 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
THE EMERGENCE of Kingston College’s (KC) Nashordo Gibbs as a goalscoring threat in this season’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup has been impressive and rewarding for head coach Raymond Watson. Gibbs has been a top producer for his team after an initial hesitancy to play in the striker’s role.
Gibbs impressed in KC’s 4-2 win over Mona in their final quarterfinal game last Saturday at Stadium East with the striker making the points safe in stoppage time after a Dujuan Richards hat trick gave the reigning champions a late lead.
Watson has hailed Gibbs’ performances in the past as an impact substitute and now in a striker role, a job that Watson said he was timid to take on initially but has now embraced because of the gaps that were in the team.
“Take (Saturday’s) performance out of the way. He played under-16 football, he was never a striker, under 14 never a striker and kept shying away from it. He always wanted to be a winger,” Watson said. “We saw shortcomings in the Manning Cup team and I asked him, ‘do you want to play?’ He said ‘yes coach.’ “
Watson said he told Gibbs: “This is the opportunity you have to strike.”
It is an opportunity that he has taken with both hands as he has scored 13 goals this season, fifth most in the competition. He has not only done so as a centre forward but playing the positions that he is familiar with. A position that was once an area of concern before the start of the season has been a source of strength in his maiden season at the Manning Cup level, something Watson hopes will continue.
KC will face St Andrew Technical High in the Manning Cup semifinals next Tuesday but will turn their immediate attention to the Champions Cup which begins play this Saturday.