Darren plays it all

SPECIALISTS are paid thousands to assist people with time management, improve their level of discipline, and other issues on which success would usually hinge. For sportsman Darren Cowie, these qualities came at no cost other than time and effort. “At primary school, I was actually very quiet and shy. I always took long before talking to anyone. After a few years, I got into it and began making friends, however, it was when I started playing sports that I really felt like I belonged. You could say that I found my calling. My cousin Stephan really motivated me in the direction of basketball and football, well in Trinidad it’s hard to be into sports without playing football. I hardly played hockey at that time though, but my family was always into sports so it was easy for me to get deeply involved,” Darren said. His words are calm, almost slurred, but his persona on the field is a perfect contrast. Darren plays professional league hockey with the Queen’s Park Cricket Club and represented his alma mater QRC in football and basketball. In primary school, this youngster laid the foundation for big things when he joined the Dunross Preparatory relay team, and became captain of the football team.

Darren laughed as he continued, “Those days were fun but we used to get beaten really bad. My schoolwork at the time was a bit shaky, and then you could say that in later years it became mediocre but not good.” Darren’s idea of a poor performance was his tenth place ranking in his class, but the Common Entrance examination served as a severe stumbling block, one of the kind that led to necessary personality development. “When Common Entrance results came out, I had passed for a junior secondary school. Personally, I had no problem going to it, but my parents wanted me to repeat so I did and passed for Queen’s Royal College, thanks to them and the efforts of Mrs Hay.” This marked an academic turning point for Darren, but he was no “bookworm” even though his classroom performances reflected the bookworm attitude.

Darren attained six distinctions at CXC and Grade A and B in two additional subjects in the Cambridge O’ Level examinations. He was voted head prefect by the administration of QRC and was a prominent student representative on the school board. He wrote articles for the school newsletter and was valedictorian of the graduating class of 2003-2004. He is awaiting A’ Level results. Darren captained the QRC Form One, Under-14, Under-16 and second 11 teams. He went on to play on the first 11 team for three years, from Form 5 to Upper 6. When Darren entered secondary school, he became the first ever first former to represent QRC at all levels in the Secondary Schools’ Basketball League — Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20. His leadership qualities seem to always be rewarded as QRC head coach, Elgin Ferris, named him captain of each of those three divisions along the way. Cowie was voted QRC’s “Basketball Player of the Year” twice. He was also awarded the MVP of the Secondary Schools Basketball League.

The accomplished sportsman was named Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s (QPCC) “Most Improved Hockey Player” twice. He was voted QPCC’s youth player of the year in 2003 and he was QRC’s “Hockey Player of the Year” in 2003. He also captained the QRC hockey team in 2003. Cowie was named MVP of the Big Apple Hockey Tournament held in New York, and represented TT at the Pan Am Games 2003, which were held in Santo Domingo. He was awarded QRC’s “Sportsman of the Year” award in 2003, and won the Lincoln Phillips trophy for “Excellence in Sports and Academics” as well as the award for being QRC’s “Most Well-rounded Student” in Form 3. “Mentally, it’s so funny, while playing any sport I think more about the other players, guiding them, asking what they need to do what they need me to do. I don’t focus too hard on my game and that way things just flow. With regard to hockey in particular, I try to get the positive comments flowing when there may be disputes and so on. I try to keep the peace.”

The modest sportsman added, “My parents gave me the freedom to do what I loved and supported me regardless. I don’t really think that I’m as good at balancing the sports and academics as people say because some people have to travel long distances after games or after practice, but I always had a ride to get home. I would be back home very soon and even though I was always tired I found time to study. So my time management is as a result of the support systems around me just as much as it is due to my effort.” Cowie plans to further his education overseas while developing his hockey, basketball and football skills.