RailHawks Midfielder Nazmi Albadawi Named NASL Player of the Week
Nazmi Albadawi is named NASL Player of the Week after scoring two important goals and assisting on another — leading his Carolina RailHawks team to victory over Tampa Bay.
Soccer News: Carolina RailHawks midfielder Nazmi Albadawi has been named North American Soccer League (NASL) Player of the Week after scoring two goals and assisting on another in his club’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night.
The dynamic midfielder set the tone in the RailHawks’ Week 2 clash against the Rowdies, providing the cross for forward Matt Fondy‘s opener in the 11th minute. After scoring a penalty kick to put the hosts up, 3-1, early in the second half, Albadawi cut inside and fired home his second goal of the game in the 71st minute, beating visiting goalkeeper Matt Pickens from outside the box to seal all three points for Carolina.
“It’s an honor to be named Player of the Week, especially in a league with such great players,” Albadawi said. “It was a great game and a great team result – the team has been working really hard. I know we were in a little bit of a slump, but we know we’re a good team and we’re very confident. I knew that once we got back on the right path, we would be fine.”
Albadawi’s complete performance, which was nearly matched by Fondy’s exceptional 82-minute shift, helped the RailHawks post their first victory in eight games after starting off the 2016 season in tremendous form.
Still just 24 years old, Albadawi has been one of Carolina’s most impressive players in recent seasons. Now wearing the captain’s armband, the NC State product is tied for the league lead with six assists. Albadawi’s pair of goals on Saturday brought his season total to three.
“For me, he was one of the best players on the field the other night, and he showed why he’s very highly thought of not only here but throughout the league,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. “He is someone who we’ve made captain, and he’s captain for a reason. He epitomizes everything we’re about here, with our local connection and the way we develop players through our youth system and through our NPSL team.”
As Clarke alluded to, the 5-foot-11 midfielder is a glowing example of local player development, having played at the youth, high school, college, and NPSL levels in the Triangle area before turning pro with his hometown RailHawks.
Albadawi has been a fixture in the league’s Team of the Week over the last few years, and has been named Player of the Week several times. Since making his professional debut in 2014, he has appeared in 61 league games for Carolina, scoring 13 goals and adding 10 assists for the club.
The RailHawks will take the momentum from their win over Tampa Bay into Tuesday night’s friendly against Premier League side West Ham United at WakeMed Soccer Park. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Diane Scavuzzo is the Editor in Chief and loves her work, family, and soccer not necessarily in that order. Scavuzzo started covering soccer in 2010 and has published over 6,000 articles on the beautiful game.
