Patrick Fleming can hardly be accused of self-promotion.
He thinks he lacks the pace to play on the wing.
He says he is "not a flash tackler".
Last year, he "couldn't score to save myself".
And he wonders why coaches play him out wide when he does not have the ability to dribble around defenders.
But beneath the humility lies one of the rising talents of this generation of Otago football.
Fleming (21) will be a key to Caversham's chances in the Chatham Cup semifinal against Auckland club Bay Olympic in Dunedin on Saturday.
Then he will return to the United States for his senior year at St Francis University, a small private Catholic school in Pennsylvania.
Then, with a bit of luck, he will embark on a professional career, perhaps following the path blazed by fellow Dunedin product Andy Boyens, who plays for the All Whites and the New York Red Bulls.
"I definitely aim towards playing professionally somewhere. Hopefully, I will be lucky enough to get that opportunity," Fleming said.
His game has flourished since making the brave move to St Francis, which has just 2000 students but holds its own in division one of the competitive college system.
"It's been really good. It's as close to being professional as you can get without actually getting money.
"You play on a turf field, the facilities are good, you train every day and you play twice a week. You get a chance to perfect everything you do, and it gets you into that professional mode."
One of Fleming's favourite experiences was playing against football - that's American football - powerhouse Penn State, at a ground in the shadow of massive Beaver Stadium, the extraordinary 107,000-capacity gridiron mecca.
He is majoring in business management and his scholarship has gradually increased to the point he is nearly getting a full ride.
Fleming has company at St Francis in the form of Caversham team-mate Seamus Ryder.
The pair are supposed to return to the US next week, so might have to do some negotiating if Caversham reaches the Chatham Cup final.
St Francis has nine starters back, and Fleming has been named a co-captain.
The college website says he will be playing up front this season.
That continues a positional merry-go-round that has seen Fleming play in midfield, on both flanks and as a striker for his club and college over the years.
"I've been playing on the left lately and really enjoying it. It's a bit of a free role. I drift inside a lot and get into some spaces."
He said he struggled to find the back of the net last year but the goals have flowed this season.
That is one way to impress Dad, something Fleming has been trying to do since first playing for Caversham coach Steve Fleming.
Patrick Fleming rates his father as the best coach he has had, even if he has been put in his place a few times.
"He tended to be quite hard on me at the start. I was 13 or 14 when I started training with the national league team and I was rubbish. He'd tell me to go out wide and stay out of trouble.
"I've learned some tough lessons. There's been a bit of tough love there. But he's been good. I wouldn't change anything."
Caversham has never reached the Chatham Cup final and it is an itch both Flemings are eager to scratch.
Patrick said there was always talk that the northern leagues were superior to the southern league, so many might be tipping Bay Olympic to win the semifinal at the Caledonian Ground.
"We've always been a bit of a dark horse. But personally, I don't have much fear of the other teams. When you get to the semifinal and final, it's about who turns up on the day.
"I think we've got a really strong team and a ton of depth.If we play to our potential, I don't know if there are too many teams in the country who can stay with us."
