Guyana Sports Development Foundation, Inc

Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington, Guyana’s explosive international striker has joined Charleston Battery, who plays in the United Soccer League (USL) A-league, for training since February 23.

The trial has been arranged by the Guyana Sports Development Foundation and Maryland based Guyanese, Steven Springer.

The Battery play their home games at Blackbaud Stadium, the first privately-funded soccer-specific stadium in the United States and are hosting the Carolina Challenge Cup, a round robin tournament, from March 7 through  March 14, 2009.Three MLS teams, Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake and DC United will join Charleston Battery in the tournament.

Formerly of Camptown Football Club, Codrington has been an ever present member of Guyana’s national team, the Golden Jaguars, since 2000. He was the leading scorer and dominant player of the Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament of 2007 with 11 goals.

He has plied his trade in the Trinidad and Tobago Professional league as a member of San Juan Jabloteh, North East Stars and Neal & Massey Caledonia AIA over the last three years and was Caledonia’s leading scorer last year.

Codrington’s previous stint in the USA was in 2007 with Cleveland City Stars (CCS) of the USL 2nd division and he was selected as a member of the USL 2nd division All-league second team.

As a member of CCS he was instrumental in the side earning a spot in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup and scored the lone goal for CSS in a 2-1 loss to the Richmond Kickers.

Codrington brings dedication, enthusiasm, commitment and a positive attitude together with an unparallel work ethic to his sport and is relishing this opportunity to showcase his talent and potential for the benefit of the team.

He is expressing thanks to Sharon Barnwell of Caribbean International Shipping Services of Atlanta, Georgia along with Jermaine Smartt and Mervin Nicholson of Campton FC New York, among others for their unwavering support and encouragement while in the USA.