Huggins thankful!

Cornelius Huggins considers himself a changed person, and he credits Almighty God, Roddy Dowers and his fiancée Ossie Cupid as the ones responsible.{{more}}

Huggins, one of the best defenders this country has produced, is beaming with joy with his maturity.

The 32-year-old Huggins has been a stand out player for St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the past 14 years, and currently plays professionally in Malaysia.

Home on a short visit after his club Kedah swept all three titles in the 2006-2007 Malaysia Football League, Huggins, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday, retraced his rise in popularity locally and the wider Caribbean.

“When I was young, I used to retrieve the ball when it came off the field’, Huggins reminisced.

From a sporting family, Huggins is the son of former St. Vincent and the Grenadines player and coach, Fred Trimmingham, himself a mean defender in his day.

And growing up in the Richmond Hill area, it was no surprise that football became his first love.

“I started to play for Richmond Hill School, then Pastures, and made the national team in 1993, at age 18”, Huggins recalled.

He also turned out for Hill Top and Stubborn Youths in local competitions.

His rapid development earned him the nickname “Out Law”.

Huggins said that name came about because when he is defending, “that’s my territory”.

Although not keeping a check of his international caps, Huggins said in his 14 years of national representation, “I have played a lot of games”.

His first taste of realising his life long dream of playing football as a profession was a one year stint in Trinidad and Tobago in 2000 to 2001, with AIA Caledonia.

In 2004 came his biggest lift when he joined Kedah.

“My first year was difficult, as the club was struggling and not doing well, and I was expected to deliver”, he recalled.

Admitting that during his four years in Malaysia, his game has developed, Huggins believes he is a better player and more mature today.

“I developed my weak points. I have become stronger, especially on my aerial play, as in Malaysia there are tall, strong strikers”, Huggins told SEARCHLIGHT.

With no regrets of choosing football as his sport, Huggins said that coming from the Caribbean, adjusting to the conditions in Malaysia could be difficult.

“Where I am based, there are some strict rules, so after I finish training, I just eat, relax or sleep”, he revealed.

A father of a seven-month-old son named Star, Huggins is devoting most of his extra time to building a bond with him.

“I love to spend quality time with my family, rather than lime with the boys”, Huggins said.

When quizzed why the name Star, Huggins said: “We went through a lot with him, and now he is our shining star”.

Although still with some more years left of him on the field of play, Huggins is looking down the road.

“When I finish playing, I will like to be a coach to pass on what I have learnt and give back what the game has given me”, Huggins said with a radiant smile.

But despite his recognition as a top player, Huggins said that the high praises do not get to him.

An admirer of his father and England player Rio Ferdinand, Huggins wants the young and upcoming players to stay focussed on the game and do not get “ swell headed” when someone tells you that you are good.

Huggins and his countryman Marlon “Tusty” James are two of the three overseas players on Kedah’s roster.

Huggins has been elevated to the position of Vice-Captain for the past two seasons.(RT)