By Rawle Toney
At just 17-years-old, Akeem Kanhai faces the biggest challenge of his young basketball career when the second leg of this year’s inter Guiana Games bounces off in French Guiana on November 28.
Guyana’s male team are the defending champions but this year, only eight players will form the team for the championships after a decision was taken by the officials not to name any replacements for two injured members of the team.
Original team captain and center Jermain Slater underwent surgery for appendicitis while the team’s other center Keno George is out with a back injury.
As such, the crafty Kanhai is now being earmarked to lead the team in French Guiana.
The player has earned a reputation of being among the better young players in the country by displaying an all round game which usually dazzles.
Kanhai, a sixth from student (Upper Sixth) at the Mackenzie High School in Linden has said that even though the task ahead will be difficult, he was more than ready to lead his country to a second consecutive Inter Guiana Games basketball title.
“I think it’s a real big task because eight players cannot play a basketball game. As it relates to me having the weight of taking my country to championship honors, I think I’m up to the challenge and I think I can do it.
“Representing my country always makes me feel really gifted and happy, because I had to work hard to reach here,” Kanhai said during an interview with Stabroek Sport on Saturday.
He stated that the two players George and Slater would be greatly missed since they are the only persons who play the center position on the team.
He sees himself having to pick up the slack on the defensive end and having to help out with the rebounding.
“It’s hard because I have to play at both ends of the floor, so I will certainly miss Jermain and Keno. But I think we can still do it. I’m kind of used to playing with short players, because at my club, the Amelia’s Ward Jets, I would normally take up the task of leading them as well, so I’m used to it. But the only thing is, this is leading my country which is a bigger task. But I feel I have the ability even though I can’t do it alone, but I’m up for it.”
Chris Bowman, assistant coach of the male side, was adamant that Kanhai would have to lead the charges in French Guiana.
He said that with the two players out, Kanhai will have to step up and go the extra mile along with point guard Orin Rose jnr., both of whom have been excelling over the past year-and-a-half amongst the senior players in the sport.
But the pressure of being the main offensive threat and having to play ‘D’ as well as leading the side is according to Abdullah Hamid… “Like burning candles on both ends.”
“Yes I feel Kanhai will certainly have to step up since the two centers are out, but it would not be fair on the player who is more known for his offensive explosions to play at both ends at the court and have to play almost the entire game, it’s only so much he can do,” said Hamid who along with Mark Agard will coach the female squad.
Hamid said that it was poor planning by the organisers which has placed Guyana in this situation.
“They made a big mistake in selecting the players for the basketball team a month ago and did not cater for situation like these. Here it is you have two players out and we are only going to the games with eight players which should not be if we are serious of retaining the championships.”
Guyana will open their campaign next Friday against the host country, and according to Slater, the eight-member basketball team is more than ready to retain their title.
“I believe in Kanhai, he will have to do it. I also think that Orin Rose will also have to do some extra work, but Kanhai is the man,” said the injured Slater.
The Inter Guiana games will see three countries; Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname competing in cycling, volleyball and basketball. The team will depart for the French colony on Wednesday.
