The old sports addage that your best players need to be your best players when it matters most is something that Kevin Richards takes to heart.
Suiting up in his third season with FEDS United, Richards is embracing a number of things for the club this season. Leadership over a high-scoring offence, sharing responsibility as a team voice on a veteran-layden squad, and a focal point for opposing defences.
And he's doing it all with a smile on his face. After all, this is just how he wants it.
"I've been playing soccer for 22 years now, and in my role with this team I like that a lot of our attack comes through me," he said. "I played sweeper for the majority of my career, and when I was in university I played wide midfield. It was only when I came here that I made the move up to striker."
Richards has adapted well. With six goals, he leads the KDSL's First Division in scoring and is at the front of a potent attack that features Geordan Avery-Cooper, Connor Avery-Cooper, Jon Smit and Jose Martinez. That quintet has amassed 19 between them, and Richards confesses it's great to share the glory with teammates - however, he still sees his primary job as putting the ball in the net.
"You always feel a little pressure when you're at the end of the attack and it's on your shoulders to put the ball in," he said. "We have a great chemistry this year. The new guys we added this year are fitting in great. Last season, we were all just in a funk when things didn't go well but now we're playing great at both ends of the pitch."
That's not just boastful pride coming out in Richards. In league play, United as given up a scant four goals while piling up a staggering 24. Richards says that's part of the team's mantra for this season and their single-minded quest to return to the KDSL Premiership next season - win everything.
"It's a huge disappointment when we lose, but the goal this season is to go out and win it all," he said. "We're not letting other teams dictate to us how we play - we want to keep the ball on the ground and wear other teams out."
One might think it would be counter productive for a striker to have that sort of defence-first mentality, but Richards is showing signs of what United head coach Rick Clayford has been hoping for - a more rounded game from one of the team's pillars.
"When Kevin first came to us, I think it's fair to say he was a bit more of a selfish player," Clayford said. "But he's grown a lot and is much more of a team guy. He can score a ton - it took a little adjusting to being up front when he first got here, but Kevin has gotten more used to playing with his back to the opposing net. He's got incredible instincts and he just knows how to go for goal. That's something you just can't teach, and when he gets the ball he want to score."
In spite of his status as the top goal-scorer in the league, Richards believes he and his United teammates can do better. By converting on more of their chances, he believes teams that FEDS faces off with will have to make much tougher choices on whom to guard and how they gameplan against United.
And that goes for all opponents - First Division or above.
"We played Oriental from the Premiership in a KDSL Cup game, and we ran right with them for the whole match," he said. "We lost the game (3-0), but we proved that we're capable of playing with teams at that level. It's just a matter of cashing in when we get the chance to do so."
With their stated goal of regaining promotion, Richards and Clayford think a return to the Premiership is well within reach. As the current league leaders, United has positioned itself for another strong push when the second half of league play rolls around. Clayford is hoping Richards can round out his game while keeping the high standard of play he's set for himself so far this season - meaning United would become that much more of a threat to opponents.
"I want Kevin involving other players when the ball is played to him - he's bought into the idea, and now it's just a matter of getting better at all aspects of the game," Clayford said. "He's come so far since he first got here, and every man on this team knows just how valuable a player Kevin is to us."
As valuable as he might be individually, Richards recognizes that everything comes in sequence - individual success is gained via team play, and team success is achieved by playing one game and one possession at a time.
"No game is more or less important than the one right in front of you," he said. "It doesn't matter if we're playing Nuri, Guelph or Azzurri, Rick never lets us forget what we need to do to win games. And this season, anything short of a league title would be a disappointment to me and every other guy here. When we qualified for the Premiership two seasons ago, we needed to earn it through a playoff game. This year we want to win the league title and make it by going through the front door."