From a tender age I have been a sports enthusiast. It started from the age of 3(three) actually, when my father first introduced me to sports. Normally kids that age would be learning their alphabets and how to count, but my father being the exceptional visionary that he is, decided to make exception to that norm and introduce to me sports instead. He told me with his tutelage and my skill that I will triumph effortlessly! And so I was introduced to a number of sports. Ranging from basketball, too soccer, to lawn tennis, to table tennis, I even did karate, just to name a few. Starring in each and every one individually off-course . My love for sports quickly grew, and I trained tirelessly day after day. I even trained late at night mercilessly, aiming for perfection. For you see you can’t really enjoy something until you win, and you can’t really win until you have mastered the sport! Is it possible to complete such a task? I often asked myself. A difficult task like that, must be tackled regularly and head on! A positive state of mind never fails to help as well. Even from a young age i believed it was possible. I knew I could be victorious. Persistence and a love for the game really helps and can take you a long way. It’s the fuel that keeps you going, even when you feel like quitting. For I believed that when the going gets tough the tough gets going! No time for sitting and wishing and wanting, if you want to complete the task, you have to push yourself and move when you have to move! Laziness is a recipe for disaster. You need to focus your mind and get self motivated. Steady progression is better than no progression! For I remember times when, I was a novice off-course, that all seemed lost, being down 4-0 in a tennis match, the sun beating down on me like a slave master with a whip, the water in my bottle is the best thing at this point and comes like a gift at Christmas, exasperated because all my strategies have failed, all my attempts at mastering the opponent and gaining points quickly were futile. I remember not being experienced enough or half as strong as the opponent. Regardless I remember I dug deep inside, and gathered what little strength I had, and miraculously turned the game around, and gain the lead and end up securing a 4-6 victory! That day changed my whole mentality, understanding and perspective on life and sports completely. I learnt that what really wins games is your WILL POWER and DRIVE to SUCCEED!

With this kind of mentality in a few short years I was playing on an international level, training to go pro actually. I Traveled to and from islands playing tournaments and winning competitions! I was finally getting the recognition that I deserved! It was not easy I must say. Starring, in soccer, tennis, basketball definitely was not easy! The mental strength needed is enormous! Since I was immensely inlove with sports, and longed to complete my task of becoming a champion, I was not perturbed by the enormous amount of mental strength required, at the time, and it was definitely not a problem for me to apply myself and fully immerse myself in sports. I steadily trained and progressed in every sporting activity I played, and participated in a number of competitions there after! I remember times in soccer when the victory was inevitable, and I remember times in table tennis when the loss was devastating! That was when I decided to drop table tennis and focus on lawn tennis! My rise to victory was a spectacular one. Match after match I dominated every opponent with my impressive speed and agility. Pacing up and down each court with one goal in mind, winning! It was a magnificent time in my life. I traveled to various countries, like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St.Vincent, Martinique and many others, to represent my country! I felt a great sense of honour and pride. That feeling is unimaginable until you go out there and win! I will attempt to explain how it feels. Imagine the last time you felt totally accomplished, the last time you triumphed and dominated every thing you attempted, now increase that feeling by 20 times, and that’s how I felt being an international player. I was that guy!, not just some guy. That professional guy, with the charming smile.

Everything was great, then tragedy struck! An unfortunate mishap would be the end to my professional career. A mishap that would devastate me for years after! It was on that terrible Monday, an ordinary monday it seemed to me at first, a single misstep caused havoc in my life. Instantly in two seconds I was unable to walk, far-less run after any ball. I was temporarily immobilized. I fell to the ground. My main form of transport at the time was wiped from under me. My pride and joy, was snatched up by the crook of life, and I was left with nothing but fond memories. Memories of winning gold medals, traveling around the world, the meet and greets internationally, the banquets, the closing ceremonies, all flashed into my mind, in that very instance. With the assistance of the staff and the little bit of strength I had left, I straightened up myself, and limped off the court. Was this to be the end of my career, at the time I was unsure. I couldn’t stop thinking why me! I practiced everyday, got my self well trained for quick turns and lungs, and I was unfortunate enough to suffer such a accident! Later on I realised that it was not the end of my sporting days, I was still able to play after my injury, but furthering my education would be the reason for me ending my career. After a good seventeen (17) years playing tennis, i had to retire.

The love of all sports lives on, within me still! I never miss a match, or a tournament on television, and I still play from time to time, not professionally though. I’ve gotten to out of shape to play professionally anymore.

MINI GALLERY! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         More pictures being added soon…