Ezra Hendrickson proud to serve SVG Football again

After representing St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), between 1995 and 2008, Ezra Hendrickson is happy to serve his homeland again, this time as Head Coach of the senior men’s team, Vincy Heat.

A former national captain, the 52 year old Hendrickson at a press conference last Tuesday, August 20, 2024, expressed elation and expectations at the tasks before him.

“My appointment as the head coach of the St Vincent (and the Grenadines) Men’s national team is something I feel very honoured to be chosen for…I am glad to be part of it and the wealth of knowledge and experience that I have accumulated over the years both as a player and as a coach would surely help to getting this country back on the map in terms of Football,” Hendrickson said with a sense of joy.

Believing that he can play a major role in helping St Vincent and the Grenadines regain respectability, Hendrickson said “We have been as far as 73rd in the world, so we know we can be in the top 100 in FIFA, even though we are such a small country with such few people…so, it is not something that is impossible… I don’t think 73rd in the world is the highest we can go”.

Hendrickson admitted that to turn the corner, it would take some doing.

“It is gonna take a lot of planning, a bit of restructuring and that’s why I’m here to be a part of that …”.

To begin the journey of the expected renaissance, Hendrickson is promising something different when Vincy Heat plays its two matches in the September window of the Concacaf National League.

Drawn in League B, St Vincent and the Grenadines face host, Bonaire ,on September, 5, 2024, and three days later, engage Montserrat, also in Bonaire.

Hendricks is optimistic that his system of play, and understanding of the processes involved can help the team attain what is required, and outlined his philosophy.

“Philosophically, it is a possession-based style, but it is a possessive progression, because the core of it is playing inside the opponents’ half…”.

Hendrickson assured that he will bring all his years of playing and coaching in the USA to his new task, and promises a distinct brand.

Meanwhile, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, Otashie Spring, confirmed at last Tuesday’s press conference that Hendrickson’s initial stint will be for a one year period.

“It is an initiative that serves a long-term goal however. We are trying to establish a relationship, so in the first instance, we are looking at a 12-month period after which we will do a …review.”

Underscoring that Hendrickson also has to produce, Spring said, “Our efforts are transactional…We want to ensure there are returns…We have targets, we have objectives, we have goals that we want to achieve …We want to ensure that we find the right methodology to take us where we want to”.

It is not the first time that Hendrickson is coaching the senior team; he was assistant to Cornelius Huggins in 2015, during St Vincent and the Grenadines’ World Cup campaign.

Hendrickson was born in Layou, but migrated to the USA as a teenager.

A lanky defender in his playing days, Hendrickson played in Major League Soccer from 1997 to 2003, where he represented LA Galaxy; Dallas Burn; Metro Stars; Chivas USA; DC United; as well as Columbus Crew.

He also has coached several teams and landed his biggest appointment when he became the Head Coach of the Chicago Fire in 2021, but was relieved of his post in 2023.