New York, NY (Aug. 5, 2008)-- When Nick (Nicholas) Parbhudial looks around the Brooklyn Knights’ Aviator Field facilities in New York, he doesn’t see a confining pad. Rather, he envisions something inspiring, something more akin to a runway launching his flight to be the best at soccer (football).
Out there at the sprawling recreation complex, Nick and his older brother Arvin religiously polish their prowess at the sport, as part of the Knights’ farm teams. Sometimes beyond the playing turfs, they would play hide-and-seek on their dad while he completes officiating duties. True, Deochand (VJ) Parbhudial is a FIFA-certified referee in the USA. Often times networking in soccer’s officialdom gives him more ‘heads-ups’ on issues in the global game than his only two kids. And, in late April, he got whiff of one that sent his senses swirling.
Deochand had to quickly seek and ‘treat’ the boys before they pulled another ‘trivial trick’ on him. “Man, I had to pursue them fast to with news of the possibility to play national level soccer.” While blowing a game, he learnt of try-outs and other activities to compose squads to represent his birthland - Guyana. And, his sons could be in the mix, especially Nick, a talented 15-year old who was dubbed as a “sure pick” for the Guyana U-17 team for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifiers in August in Trinidad and Tobago. 
To get Nick onto the roster, the task fell on his dad and Colin Baker, the Florida-based CEO of the Guyana Football Federation-World Cup Committee (GFF-WCC). “My dad and him (Baker) are cool and he told him what to do to get me this shot.” Then they also learnt of the Guyana-USA Soccer League (GUSL) in Brooklyn, and according to Nick “there is this other guy who’s also cool with my dad, who runs the league and he wanted dad, like, to bring out me and my brother.” Eventually, they met International Coordinator Garth Nelson - also a GFF-WCC executive - at the Aviator where the league plays. The new GUSL is a sort of overseas breeding ground for Guyana’s soccer.
But, both Nick and Arvin are US-born. Thus, it meant getting them properly accredited to represent Guyana – a process that was expedited by Baker, Nelson and Nick’s dad. “Nick was going to play for Guyana!” That good fortune sent the Parbhudials’ four-member household in Richmond Hill, Queens into raptures of soccer-induced elation. “They’re really excited for me, especially my brother ‘cause he has a big influence on me. He knows, like, I can go places in soccer,” Nick beamed.
Before leaving for the CFU’s, Nick had said he was anxious to meet the other players, including the ones from opposing teams. “I’m actually pretty excited ‘cause I wanna’ go, like, see what’s out there … meet people, you know. I want to see how other kids relate and how good a competitor I am.”
In Trinidad, the soon-to-be 11th grader at Queen’s Hillcrest High School wrote his name onto the pages of the region’s junior soccer stats by scoring both of Guyana’s goals during the playing minutes of their three games. His first was a one goal shutout on Barbados after the teams had earlier shared a goalless tie. The other was a left-footed strike in extra time after Guyana and Bermuda were knotted on ciphers in regulation. However, an equalizer by Bermuda eventually sent the game to sudden-death penalty kicks where Guyana went under by 5 to 6 in eight tries each.
Strangely, that was almost a déjà vu of Nick’s choice of a ‘most memorable game’ from 1½ years ago in the final of the Northeast Premiere Youth Soccer Leagues in the US. “We were down 1-0, and I had a free kick and I scored to tie the game. Then we went to overtime, but we finished 1-1. Then to penalties, and we end up losing because I, like, missed my kick.” Such gloom seldom makes a preferred moment of lasting impression, but it is for Nick. “I, like, reflect on that to fuel my passion for redemption.”
Nick’s following in the sport seems like a hereditary trail, and his path to soccer stardom has ideal support. He’s surrounded by his dad – an official; his older brother – an active player and his mom, Annie – his #1 fan. She usually revels in his participation, though she’s not clued-up to the bare bones of the game. "Oh yes, my mom she really doesn’t know much about the game like that; she’s not a big fan of soccer, but she’s a big fan of me playing soccer.” On the flip, Nick gets endless guidance through the male Parbhudials’ “senior exposure”. “Actually, they both play roles in where I am today in soccer, so like, all around, I get it good.”
In fact, the exposure started early for Nick when one of his father’s colleagues introduced him to the game as a 6-year old tot. His first forays were “for fun”, and he didn’t foresee the growth he now enjoys. “I didn’t set out to make it a major part of my life. But, as time passed, I, like, said it’s time to step it up and start taking this game seriously.”
It was his dad who got him and his brother into the Knights’ program. Nick represents the franchise in the United Soccer League’s (USL) Y-League where 112 teams across the USA vie in the annual championship. His club plays in the Boys U-16 Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. And, 18-year old Arvin is a defender in the club’s Men’s U-20 section, and also represented GT Juniors in St. Maarten, recently.
Before, Nick had stints with various youth academies to mold his skills. He attended the F.A. Eurocamp in New York which draws coaching services from Knights’ head coach Guiseppe ‘Joe’ Balsamo and former European greats. He also donned gear for the BV Gottfschee based in Maspeth, NY. In 2003, Nick captained the New York’s conquering Met Oval U-12 team that had a terrific run in the Premiere League season. They reached the nationals finals in Florida, and that brought special acclaim for his ability and leadership. “I didn’t have, like, a soccer team in junior high, but I was playing in the junior league in my own time.” Then, he was at Middle School (MS) 137 in Ozone Park, Queens.
His current school (Hillcrest) plays in the Queens B III sector of the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) and for the 2007-2008 season, Hillcrest racked up 34 points, compiling an amazing 11 wins and a tie from 12 games. The year before, Hillcrest got the conference title with on the squad as a senior.
At first glance, the 5’5” teenager looks raw and tough with a hair-festooned body and long, pony-tailed black hair. But that's not all there is to the Sagittarian. He remains a staple in the Knights’ Y-League locker room for his upbeat nature and amity. He’s a prolific right-sided forward who also sends a mean left-footed drive into the old onion bag. He works often in isolated, discreet sessions on his skills, tactics and conditioning, and if the dark hours allow it, Nick would also be a nocturnal semi-perfectionist. “It’s just how I play, I want to get better, day and night.”
Growing up in a society where football in is the trunk space of a cab-full of other lucrative sports, Nick steered his intentions along a one-way path. “Since playing when I was very young, it is something about the game that gets me hyped. You’ve got to perform your best, even if there’s one bad period, you can’t let up for one moment.” “You know you got other people on the team to support you, so it’s different things that makes me enjoy the game,” Nick added.
Though soccer is prime indulgence, Nick’s spare time preferences stretch the spectrum, and he shoots ‘hoops’ for an equally active break from soccer. “I play a lot of basketball on my spare time, but I never really take it seriously like that.” He also has a penchant for car-influenced type movies; plays a mean x-box and hangs out with friends.
Someday, Nick wants to meet and talk soccer with his international idol, Liverpool and England’s talismanic midfielder Steven Gerrard. “He’s, like, my favorite player, and I wanna’ be like him someday,” he said of the 28-year old star with whom he actually shared space at a special Liverpool FC youth camp during the English team’s 2006 New York visit. He also attended one run by the indomitable Manchester United FC during their US tour, the previous year. Coincidentally, Nick idolizes another celebrity; one who has had an older relation direct his paths to stardom. “Right now, my favorite artiste is, like, Lil’ Wayne,” he said of the charismatic Louisiana-born rapper who’s surrogate father is music industry executive Brian ‘Baby’ Williams aka ‘Birdman’ of Cash Money Records.
Once in awhile, Nick runs into stunned peers remarking on his soccer growth. “My friends will be like ‘Wow! Soccer?’ … They really didn’t know it could take you this far, they mostly know about (American) football and NBA (basketball). They’re really surprised where I am going with it (soccer). And, he’s agog over representing his parents’ country of birth. "Honestly, whenever I get the chance to put the Guyana gear on, I’ll look at it as a privilege and an honor. I think it’s cool ‘cause most parents are proud of a child doing that and playing at this level.” Now Nick wants more episodes to help raise Guyana’s status quo in world soccer. “I really haven’t seen Guyana in big tournaments, but I’m hoping one day soon we’ll end up in the World Cup or something and that I would have played a part, however small.”
As a soccer executive, Deochand understands that dreams and reality often exist on different planes for young players. "I don't think anybody should take (the dream) away and tell youngsters, 'No, you won’t make it,'" he said. "I tell him, 'Take it as far as you can and be honest with yourself’." Deochand is also pragmatic about his son's chances of playing pro soccer. “He’s mid-teens, and he got time to see the prospects, but we’ve to look at his education, as well.” That ticked Nick’s aims for a soccer scholarship. “I haven’t set on a college (university) as yet, but I had planned on playing for Hofstra (in New York), and if I get a bigger scholarship I would go for, like, Duke or Wake Forest (in North Carolina).
"The first time I saw Nick, I saw potential, and he’s got tons of it," Nelson had said. "He focuses a lot on his game and knows what it takes to be a top player.” Nelson deems him “a jeweled find”, and is upbeat that he’ll be a trailblazer. "This has been a career defining feel for him, obviously,"
Back in the USA, Nick’s life may change again. The CFU experiences make him a coveted asset on any youth team. He gives credit to his family and the coaches who have guide him this far, especially his pee-wee coach Freddy Grella. “Very specially, I thank the Guyana soccer people for, like, opening this door. And, my teammates are really awesome ... I plan going GT soon to keep our friendship, like, real tight,” he conceded in almost colloquial Guyanese tones.
From his hide-and-seek to his revelations, the distance between ‘make believe’ and realism doesn’t seem perplexing anymore for Nick Parbhudial. After all, soccer is already in his fuselage being turbo-charged by ideal home support. Now, like his young Guyana colleagues, he aims for the skies of soccer stardom to soar with the Golden Arrowhead.
Gary Tim is Director of Media Operations with Brooklyn Knights FC –the 2007 United Soccer Leagues PDL Eastern Conference champions in USA. 