BALTIMORE, Maryland — Rodolph Austin is not a man of many words. He seems, by observation, to be a doer, than a talker.

He prefers, no doubt, to let his football do the talking for him.

But in addition to that, he remains unfazed when it comes to personal accolades. He accepts them when they come, but not for himself. What is meant to be his glory, he claims, is shared with his team. That’s the measure of the man.

In the CONCACAF Gold Cup after three preliminary games, the former Leeds United skipper was adjudged the Man of the Match twice —- in the 2-2 draw with Costa Rica and the 1-0 win over El Salvador.

Against Canada, he scored the lone goal that propelled his team, and even though he was not named Man of the Man, he was his team’s hero. His midfield partner, Je-Vaughn Watson copped that award.

“Personally for me, it’s a good thing for me to get (awards), but I am a team person and the team is more important and we are winning and playing well, and that’s what is

more important to me,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE after a training session at Stevenson University, just outside urban Baltimore.

And when the Reggae Boyz go into battle today to face Haiti in the quarter-final of the Gold Cup in pleasant downtown Baltimore at the M&T Bank Stadium, the rest of the

Boyz will be grateful to have the uncompromising Austin as their leader.

Even as he has put every foot right in the tournament so far, excelling on and off the field of play, he still demands more of himself as his team chases glory in this tournament.

“I will try to keep my performance at the level it has been or I will go even higher,” he said, creasing his face into that trademark frown.

Though knockout games may often require a recalibration of approach and a greater sense of caution to limit, or eliminate, errors, Austin says he views them as just another game.

“We have to approach it as any other game, and we want to win and that’s what we are going out there to do. I like the way the team is growing at the moment, so we just have to keep it that way,” said the former SK Brann midfielder.

Haiti, like other Caribbean teams, have always come pumped up to face Jamaica, and Austin is wary of that threat.

“It’s always hard whenever we play against Caribbean teams, and it’s a quarter-final match and everybody wants to win and reach the semi-final at least, so we just have to go out there and do our best and give them a good game,” said the ex Portmore United star.

Austin, fondly called ‘Rudi’ by his teammates and friends, says he doubts the latest drama in the camp with defender Alvas Powell walking out on the team and the loss of four key players to injury and card suspension will destabilize the team at this time.

“As you can see everyone is happy, even the players who are not playing, as they know that they have to come in and do the job,” the 30-year-old said.

— Sean Williams