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Ferguson climbing ladder in Maryland and Barbados

3 Jan, 2008

By: Charles Boehm - Potomac Soccer Wire Staff Writer
December 27, 2007
 
Most Washington, D.C.-area soccer fans have probably never heard of Daryl Ferguson, the tall center back who became one of the first players to sign with new USL-2 club Real Maryland this month.
 
But then, as of mid-summer, the coaching staff of the Barbados national team had never heard of him either. Yet by September the Lanham, Md. resident was a central cog in the small Caribbean nation’s under-23/Olympic team, and now Ferguson looks likely to challenge for a starting spot on the senior squad when the “Bajan Braves” open their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign in February.
 
And if the Bajans can get past tiny Dominica in their two-legged home and away series, they’ll have earned a date with the heaviest of heavyweights in the CONCACAF region: the United States.
 
“Well, in the last World Cup qualifying [meeting between the teams, in 2000] it was 7-0 United States,” noted a grinning Ferguson, speaking after Real Maryland’s December 11 press conference. “Hopefully that can change.”
 
The mere possibility that the Prince George’s County native might be involved in such a matchup highlights what has been a meteoric ascent to the international level from humble beginnings – and even in light of Barbadian soccer’s modest reputation, it hints at a bright future for his professional career in the United States.
 
Born in Maryland to a Barbadian mother and Grenadian father, Ferguson spent time with D.C. United’s Super Y-League team before attending Seton Hill University, a small liberal arts college which was just beginning the move from club level to NAIA (and eventually, NCAA Division II) competition when he arrived in 2003.
 
“He’s clearly the most talented player we’ve ever had here,” said Seton Hill coach Dan McCarty. “He’s just an amazing kid, too. He was a pre-med major, did well academically, he was a student ambassador. I mean, he’s a total-package kind of kid. Everything he has earned, he deserves.”
 
Despite a distinguished tenure at SHU, Ferguson had little intention of pursuing a professional career until McCarty urged him to do so in his senior year. With his confidence and curiosity piqued, the talented but raw defender soon caught on with the Delaware Dynasty of the Premier Development League and later trained with the Charleston Battery of USL-1.
 
Having been raised with a strong consciousness of his West Indian roots, he also reached out to see if Grenada or Barbados would consider him for their national team programs. Barbados officials replied first, so Ferguson took the plunge, booking a flight south with his own money in the hopes of making an impression.
 
“It was a risk. It was either a hit or miss, basically,” he said. “The tryout was practicing with the Olympic squad, which was preparing for the Olympic [qualifiers], to go to Aruba in September. So I went over in late August, and they asked me to stay, so I ended up staying until the end of September.”
 
Ferguson played a full 90 minutes in all three of the Bajans’ qualifiers, including a 2-0 win over Aruba and an unlucky 1-0 loss to regional power Jamaica. A 2-1 loss to Antigua and Barbuda eliminated Barbados from contention for a spot in next summer’s Beijing Olympics, but for Ferguson, it was a successful trip in every other sense.
 
“It felt really good, because I got a chance to represent part of my heritage and it was a great opportunity to showcase my skills as well,” he explained.
 
Noting his multinational background, his Bajan teammates quickly coined him “Swirl Baby” when he revealed his familiarity with Grenadian culture on a team trip to the neighboring island – but his strong build and physical play in defense saw the nickname evolve.
 
“Now they call me Big B,” laughed Ferguson.
 
Once an English colonial stronghold, Barbados is a cricket-obsessed nation whose soccer squad – for now at least – remains just one more minnow among many in a CONCACAF pool dominated by a few sharks like the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica. But with hungry domestic players eager to earn attention from overseas and a savvy coaching staff growing increasingly adept at identifying second-generation talent in England, Canada and the U.S., there’s much cause for optimism.
 
“I would say everyone has more drive, because a lot of guys are trying to leave the island and go play somewhere, and the Barbados national team is usually the only way for them to get out – or cricket,” said Ferguson.
 
He also gave U.S. fans a hint of what the Yanks may encounter if they meet Barbados in World Cup qualifying next year. Like many underdogs the world over, the Bajans use a straightforward 4-4-2 formation with a flat back four, focusing on tight defense and quick counterattacking. Psychology will certainly play a role in the David-Goliath matchup as well.
 
“We have to prepare in a manner in which we think we’re equals to the bigger countries,” said Ferguson, who is nonetheless realistic about the States’ huge advantage in player development. “Resources in the Caribbean are low and I think that’s a reason why a lot of players don’t play for their country. Countries just have to accommodate to what they have, use the players that they’re given, so there’s not as many options as the U.S. national team.”
 
But Ferguson himself has already shown plenty of Caribbean resourcefulness in building the foundations for a pro career. He works as a substitute teacher at a Prince George’s County middle school in addition to strength and conditioning sessions with a personal trainer, and he continues to look ahead, eyeing the next set of challenges and opportunities. 
 
“I see myself, in the near future, playing in MLS or maybe in a division two league in Europe,” he said. “So I’m hoping that the national team, as well as my upcoming season with Real Maryland, can bring me closer to those dreams.”

Charles Boehm has covered D.C. United and the rest of the Washington-area soccer world for more than three years. A native of Dallas, Texas, Charlie made D.C. his home following a hard-working -- but hardly spectacular -- NCAA Division III college career and subsequent Peace Corps stint in the small, soccer-crazed, island nation of Grenada, where he also coached and played in the Grenadian Premier League (such as it is). He welcomes feedback at cboehm@potomacsoccerwire.com.

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