Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 26, 2013 Sports
Charwayne Walker continues his look at outstanding sports personalities who have represented Guyana. Today he looks at basketball player Dane Kendall.
The ‘Million Dollar Question’ still asked by Basketball fans throughout Guyana, is why was Dane Kendall omitted from Guyana’s Caricom team in 1994 and 1995, did Erik Rashaad had stats on Kendall’s performance against the first and to date the only Professional European team to visit Guyana, Germany’s T.T.L Bomberg?
Although his uncle Gavin Kendall played for Guyana in the seventies, Basketball was never Dane’s first love. Growing up in Robb Street Bourda, the temptations from GCC and GFC was always difficult to resist but the late Phillip George and Colts United changed his route from Bourda to Burnham’s Court. Under the guidance of George, Dane Kendall developed into one of the most Dominant Centres in division one competition in his Rookie Year (1991), so impressive was his performance he made the Georgetown team for Inter Sub-association action against Linden and Berbice.
Kendall was also unstoppable for Alberttown Bourda at the Inter Ward level. He had limited Court time in his first international match against Senators of Barbados, February 1991 at the National Sports Hall. Playing against Senior Professionals like Dwight Rouse and Andrew Alleyne, the Rookie Kendall showed that he had the mental fortitude for the ‘Big Stage’. So it was no surprise when the National selectors included him for his debut Caricom championships in Kingston Jamaica July 1991. Dane was hardly used by Coach Brusche in Jamaica because Guyana’s pivots were Christian Semple, Byass and Wyles so Dane had to wait his turn.
After the Jamaica Championship, Dane’s next international assignment was Suriname for a Goodwill tour August of 1991. Dane played more minutes because both Christian and Byass declined selection after the Caricom championship in Jamaica.
His exposure in Suriname gave him the confidence and self belief that was lacking in Jamaica. The following year 1992, Dane led Colts United to two division one titles, he also was dominant for Georgetown and Alberttown Bourda but the performance that captured the hearts of basketball fans was against the touring Germans T.T.L Bomberg in August 1992. Although the Guyanese loss all three matches by wide margins, Dane was phenomenal.
His top score of 23 pts in the first game still remains his international career high. He also had double doubles in the other two games. His next outing in national colours was July 1993 against Barbados at the National Sports Hall, a series Guyana loss two games to one. Kendall’s most disappointing moment wearing the national jersey was when Guyana lost in the finals to DC Jammers August 1993.
The Boys had an unbeaten run en route to the finals with two victories against the eventual winners and Suriname. His international programme in 1994 started with Ravens Basketball Club at the Caribbean Club Championship in Trinidad and the two outstanding players on that tour were Lugard Mohan and Dane Kendall. After the Ravens tour, Dane Kendall was included in an National 17 man squad for three friendly international matches in Bridgetown, Barbados. This tour was basically used by Coach Rashaad as trials for Guyana’s final 12 man squad for the 1994 Caricom Championship in Guyana, but on return Rashaad omitted Guyana most prolific centre forward Dane Kendall.
Although the land of many waters reached its first finals, Dane Kendall should have been selected in front of Edgar Thomas, and Rookies Lorenzo Withrite and Lancelot Loncke even if the selectors were exposing young talent in Withrite and Loncke. Thomas’ selection ahead of Kendall was shocking.
Again after dominating the local scenes in 1995 coach Rashaad omitted Dane Kendall for the Caricom championship in the Bahamas this time Rashaad’s poor judgement was ignominiously exposed. The land of many waters lost all six preliminary matches, still the most fundamental centre on the local scene, Dane returned to the National line up the following year 1996. Playing under the guidance of new coach Theran Caesar, Dane had a lot to prove and his first opponents were DC Jammers. Kendall schooled the DC Jammers big men with mesmerising moves he was also dominant on the boards.
His outstanding All round performance helped Guyana sweep DC Jammers three Nil so the selectors had no choice but to include him in the final 12 man squad for the 1996 Caricom Championship in Trinidad. Although the go to big men in Trinidad were Withrite and Loncke, Kendall played an integral role as mentor. As a defender he was fearless against Kennedy of Jamaica, Rouse and Alleyne of Barbados, Knowles of Bahamas and Brisbane of Trinidad. Although he was not a prolific scorer, his contribution in the locker room proved invaluable. Dane will always remember July 1996 in Trinidad, Guyana placed fourth, narrowly losing the semi-finals to a Jamaican team that included former NBA Pros Rumeal Robinson and Andrew Kennedy. Also fresh in his memory is the three Nil thrashing Guyana handed to Trinidad and Tobago in 1997 April at the National Sports Hall. Dane had big moments in that historical series. He also helped Guyana triumph two games to one in a three match series of June 1997 against Barbados at the same venue.
The success against Barbados is rated highly by Kendall because Guyana contested that series without the likes of Captain Lugard Mohan, Orin Mohan, Eion Leitch, Robert Cadogan, the Co-Captains were Withrite and Remington Ram.
His last outing in national colours is also historical because Guyana swept DC Jammers 4 Nil at the National Sports June 1998, but failed to attend the 1998 Caricom Championship in Belize. Dane Kendall still plays basketball for his beloved Colts and his employers John Fernandes Limited.
International Tours
1991 Jamaica
1991 Suriname
1994 Trinidad with Ravens
1994 Barbados
1996 Trinidad
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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