Former National Volleyball stalwart organise tournament

May 25, 2009 Sports

Former National Volleyball stalwart Charles ‘Wheels’ Henry also known as Charlie, who dominated the game during the late 70s and the early 80s, is now back home on holiday from the United States.

Henry represented Guyana from 1976 when he made the national Volleyball team as a 17 year old until he migrated in 1985.

Charles Henry

He hails from New Amsterdam and started his playing days while at school and attended a number of those institutions including Vrymans Erven and The Berbice Educational Institute (BEI).

He was one of the founding members of the Rollers Volleyball club, which was formed in the early 1970s along with other stalwarts in former national captain Wally Bascom, Clifton Phillips and John Ramsingh, who all went on to represented Guyana from time to time.

His first project while home is the staging of the Charles Henry one day inter club Volleyball extravaganza, which will be played tomorrow, Independence Day, at the GTM hard court at Lad Lane and Strand New Amsterdam, beginning at 09:00.

The tournament has attracted teams from throughout Berbice including West Berbice and Upper Corentyne. Nine teams have so far taken entry namely; Rollers, Albion, Blairmont, Port Mourant, Letterkenny, three teams from The Guysuco Training Centre and Crabwood Creek. While a female exhibition game will also be played.

Commissioner of Police Henry Green and B division Commander George Vyphuis are expected to attend with the Commissioner scheduled to declare the games open.

A number of present and past star players are expected to be present and participate in the day’s activities including President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation Lenny Shuffler, former national stalwarts in Attorney-at-law Basil Williams, Bertie Bradford, Clifton Phillips and Levi Nedd, who would have played on the national teams with Henry.

Other Berbice stalwarts in Benny Sukhra and Gregory and Tony Rambarran and present nationals Shawn Sutherland and Sean Glasgow, Sean Best will all be on show.

At the end of the competition the top four teams and outstanding players will receive trophies and other incentives.

Among the individual prizes up for grabs are for the Most Valuable Player, Best spiker, best setter, best server and the best defender.

The Tournament will be coordinated by national Coach and former captain Levi Nedd, while another former national Bertie Bradford will take care of the officiating.