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Sindani did well in brief cameos in 2018 and had three big catches in the West Division Final, but his usage rate has been at a whole other level so far this year.

With 11 catches and 148 receiving yards, he has already surpassed his total from his rookie season. He’s proving that he can contribute week in and week out, and now, his team is asking for even more.

“I think Richie’s more than ready,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “I’m hopeful Hergy also steps up, because we can move him around. Richie’s been solid. He did have that fumble (last week against the Ottawa Redblacks), but when the plays have been there, he’s made them.

“He’s getting more opportunities and he’s taken advantage of them.”

The fumble last week came late in the game as Sindani charged toward the end zone in an attempt to get a touchdown that would have put the Stamps ahead.

The ball was knocked out on the one-yard line – a strangely treacherous spot for Stampeders receivers in Ottawa – and could have been costly, although his team managed to win the game on a last-second field goal from Rene Paredes.

It was the first fumble of Sindani’s career and, ultimately, mistakes do happen. To his credit, the 24-year-old bounced back up and got back to work.

“I haven’t fumbled before, so I was in a position I haven’t been in before,” Sindani said. “But I think just growing up and playing football at all levels and going through the things I went through to get to this point, it would be really sad for me to let that get me down. I think (Dickenson) recognizes that. We’re all going to make a mistake at some point and that’s where it makes it OK for us to learn from it and move on in a mature way.”

With the fumble behind him, Sindani knows there’s an opportunity ahead of him to prove that he can be an impact player in the CFL.

You could argue he has already proven that, but Sindani is hungry to show even more of what he can do.

“I’m looking to prove how efficient a play I am and how intelligent I am,” Sindani said. ‘I’ve said it before, I think being an intelligent football player is probably the key for me going forward to do what I want to do. Other than that, it’s just about getting wins.”

daustin@postmedia.com

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