QRC Boys cooking up a storm

It is quite refreshing to see three healthy young men involved, not in cricket, football or even basketball but in hockey on a national level. Soon these ex-Queen’s Royal College classmates will be off to the Pan American Games, proudly representing Trinidad and Tobago.

Skipper Kwandwane Brown, 26 years old, is no stranger to the game having been most instrumental in helping Notre Dame dethrone the Defence Force as champions in 1997. That year, he earned the title of “Player of the tournament” in the Men’s Open Division at the Colfire Invitational Indoor Hockey Championships. There was no stopping for this dedicated player who moved from National under-19 skipper to captain of the senior squad and by whose efforts was spotted by a member of a British club and was offered a scholarship at London Metropolitan University. Here, Kwan was recently named “Player of the year” in England, winning the University League and moving his team from 1A2 Division to the Premiership League, the highest hockey level in England. He was not alone to accomplish this feat — playing along with him were his teammates and friends from back home, 25-year-olds Brian Garcia and Nigel Providence. It is indeed a tale of friendship and love for your countrymen, for no sooner had Kwan obtained his scholarship, he was busy recommending his friends and also dedicated hockey players for the same.

Kwan started his Law Degree in 1998 at London Metropolitan University, with Brian following in his footsteps one year later and Nigel, who was recovering from an injury, joined them last year. Nigel, however, is pursuing a degree in Marketing and will probably focus on Events Management; Brian is looking to practise Law and Kwan’s interest is in Immigration Law. When asked how they felt about getting a scholarship that takes care of their tuition and accommodation, Brian replied, “I felt ecstatic, getting to study and play hockey at the same time, in one of the best leagues in Europe... it was like a dream come true.” Nigel felt that his family was proud of him and that “after all these years that they can see the rewards coming from hockey.” After all, they both testify to “spending more money on hockey than getting from it” and also to Kwan being instrumental in getting them involved in hockey from the start. Nigel attested to the fact that he was a football player and Kwan invited him to play hockey. At first he didn’t like it, being the goalkeeper and having all these balls coming at you, but when he wasn’t the goalie and was hitting out shots instead he began to love the game. The boys are cooking up a storm, literally — university hall mates have to feed themselves; so they cook pelau, lentils...anything, everyday. While they’re away they miss traditional Sunday lunch, going to the beach, wearing less clothes and the sun, generally. But they’re here now and preparing themselves for the Pan American games next week in Santo Domingo. Last year, the Trinidad and Tobago National Hockey Teams (both male and female) brought gold from the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games in Puerto Rico of which Kwan and Brian were midfielders.

This year, with the three friends playing in the Pan Am Games they are hoping to be successful, since these games are a qualifier for the World Olympics. “There is no greater feeling than playing for your country” was Nigel’s comment and it is the wish of both Brian and Nigel to do exactly what Kwan did, return from time to time to strengthen the national team and offer life-changing opportunities to other young hockey players. This year, two more Trinidadians would be picking up hockey scholarships at London Metropolitan University. When asked whether they are mentors to our youths, Brian replied, “Maybe, mentor is too strong a word...inspiration to young people and letting them know that apart from playing sports, the school part is also important.” The boys have a packed schedule in London; from classes, to cooking to training to coaching the University’s team and also playing for different clubs. The future looks bright for the friends, for within the next few years, with more exposure and international experience, who knows? Hockey might fare better than cricket or football internationally. The boys are looking forward to seeing corporate sponsorship locally, since hockey needs specialised equipment, a widening of the catchments areas, like taking hockey to primary schools and greater press coverage for the sport. Hopefully, we could start the ball a rolling with Newsday’s photographer, Sheldon Brathwaite going to the games. Although, Sheldon will not be officially working as a photographer there but, would you believe, goalkeeping for the very team? So we look forward for more press coverage as we continue this saga on the QRC friends. All the best to these industrious players, in drama we say “break a leg” but we wouldn’t want you to take that literally now, would we?