Old Harbour native, former Reggae Boy inducted into Hall of Fame club
The Old Harbour native was among seven inductees recognised at a glitzy ceremony on the university’s campus on September 20.
“From the first school that I went to I could see all the Hall of Famers on the wall it was something that I always wanted for not just myself but eventually even when I have my kids… and it was very surreal to have my kids there,” Cummings, 42, told Old Harbour News a few days later.
It was a special night for Cummings, regarded as a Cincinnati soccer legend, as well as for Olympians Jordan Thompson, Annette Echikunwoke and Vanessa Gilles; former basketball player Sean Kilpatrick, ex-Bearcats coach Mardy Gilyard; and the late Mike Woods whose daughter Pasia Woods accepted in his honor.
For those who have followed Cummings’ career closely, this recognition is richly deserved.
It’s an accomplishment that ranks “pretty high” among his many feats both on and off the field, he tells Old Harbour News while adding “To be ranked among the best is always something special.”
Cummings exudes world class professionalism during a 10-year MLS career which fittingly ended at FC Cincinnati. It was in Ohio that his love affair started with the Queen of the West after leaving the very tiny community of Bodles, Old Harbour back in 2003. The speedy forward caught the eyes of coaches during his time studying and playing for Cincinnati State College and Cincinnati Bearcats before being snapped up by Colorado Rapids during the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.
Since he hanging up his boots in 2007, Cummings spends much of his time working with FC Cincinnati’s outreach soccer programme where children in the city are given a chance to towards a self-fulfilling life.
“It’s going good. It’s something I love,” he says of his current coaching job.
These days he uses his experience as an ex-professional and as a holder of a degree in criminal justice to steer young minds in the right direction.
“Before everything master your craft, try to be the best at your craft,” he added. “Set goals and even if you don’t get to those goals you might not fall far, so that’s something I’ll encourage everyone to do.”
Following the euphoric moment, Cummings was fully focus on the task in front of him, back on the job educating impressionable minds who look up to him as a hero.
“For me what’s done is done. What’s in the past is in the past and I now look to the future,” said the former Houston Dynamo and San Antonio Scorpions player.
Meantime, the former Reggae Boy who played 35 times for his country, says Jamaica has the best chance of reaching the next FIFA World Cup in North America.
“Everyone by now should know that this is the best chance Jamaica will have to make it to the world cup since ’98 but also it’s the best chance for every other country in Concacaf,” Cummings said referencing the expanded format in which 48 teams will compete.\
Concacaf have been allotted six direct spots and two indirect routes to the 2026 World Cup to be played in Mexico, Canada and the United States of America. This means confederation could have up to eight teams playing in the next world cup.
“Jamaica, with the talent we have and the potential we have, then we should make it. But if we think it’s a shoo-in then that will be a mistake,” said Cummings who scored seven goals wearing the famed black, green and gold shirt.
Recently the Jamaica Football Federation appointed Steve McClaren as head coach to achieve this goal. However, while Cummings believes early success under the Englishman is important, a change in the selection process is worth reassessing.
He contends that he would love to see more local grown players given a chance at the senior level as this create a deeper psychological advantage within the psyche of the team.
“I think that [local players] brings little bit more heart into the team,” said Cummings who started out at Rivoli United before moving to Cincinnati. “We have been using a little bit of the same formula in ’98 with a lot more overseas foreign-born players. That formula hasn’t worked particularly well. I think you need to see a bit more heart and fight and know what you are fighting for. Fight for the country because you know what it means to represent the country and put on that jersey.”
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