Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Charles ‘Wheeler’ Henry now gives back to Guyana
By Michael Benjamin
He was always sports oriented and could have excelled in basketball, a sport he practiced as a youth. The Berbician was also an avid cyclist and was so proficient that his exploits earned him the sobriquet, ‘Wheels.’
Charles “Wheels” Henry
Coupled with that, he was proficient in pools, played a mean game of chess and was a competent footballer. Yet amidst these successes, Charles Henry eventually meandered into volleyball, a discipline he eventually dominated as a spiker.
Today, some three decades after he would have made his first serve, and some two decades after migrating to the United States of America, Henry has returned to his native land, anxious to revive the sport that has brought him immense pleasure and defined his youthful years.
The current state of affairs is discouraging but he intends to address the task with the same level of alacrity and enthusiasm displayed on the courts during his hey days.
Charles attended the Berbice Collegiate High School and subsequently, the Daniels High School. Afterwards, he worked at the defunct Guyana Telecommunication Corporation, now the Guyana Telephone &Telegraph Company Ltd. The management of that organisation immediately recognised, and committed to hone his talent.
Charles’ ability as a shrewd player earned him the coveted job of coach of GUYSTAC even though he was still an active player. ‘Wheels’ said that in those days the competition was fierce and the fact that the GUYSTAC team ruled the roost spoke volumes for his coaching ability.
Around the early 70s, after recognising his superb talent, the management of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) drafted him into the soldiers’ camp, where he enjoyed the distinction of being the only civilian player to compete for the military side. The lanky Henry stayed with the Army until 1985 and enjoyed some amount of success before migrating with his family to the USA.
The 1979 Guyana national team, Charles Henry is second left stooping, while Attorney-at-Law Basil Williams is standing second left.
Henry, who hails from New Amsterdam, started playing volleyball, while attending Vryman’s Erven Secondary School.
He later attended the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and was one of the founding members of the Rollers Volleyball Club, formed in the early 70s.
He played alongside such stalwarts as former national captain Wally Bascom, Clifton Phillips, John Ramsingh, Evan Chee, Attorney-at-Law, Basil Williams, Eon Shepard, Bertie Bradford, who he considers his mentor, and Levi Nedd among others. He was so proficient that his peers dubbed him the ‘Michael Jordan’ of volleyball.
‘Wheels’ was a mean player. Back then, volleyball was very popular and participants competed against each other at the club level in the Guyana Games, the Inter Corporation Games that pitted the skills of players from GUYSTAC and GUYMINE Corporations, as well as the Joint Services Games. The players also engaged in numerous overseas tournaments.
A former employee of the then Guyana Telecommunication Corporation (GTC), Henry, who is now a Communication Engineer with the world renowned Verizon Telephone company in the United States of America, reminisces on those days when sports were an integral aspect of Guyana’s development.
He also remembers when sports administrators, recognising the kind of input that was available, appointed former players to coaching positions because of their experience and knowledge.
‘Wheels’ experiences nostalgic moments, as he reminisces on his youthful days in the sport. He sported the number 4 on his back and played as a spiker. He soon became a permanent feature on the national team, a position he retained for the entire nine years after his selection to national duty.
After his playing years were over, Henry, and his colleague, Clifton Phillips, another former proficient setter founded The Rollers Volleyball Club.
The six-footer remembers his glory days – appearing in a game against the US Virgin Islands, played in Guyana. His team lost that game 3-2 but he was so impressive that the captain of the visiting team singled him out for special commendations.
He subsequently gave Henry a pair of boots, the one he wore during the competition. “We could not even afford to buy good footwear, so I was excited with the gift,” Henry revealed.
One of the experiences he reserves for the recesses of his memory occurred in a game against a Chinese national team here on a Goodwill tour. “They say Chinese are short but I played against an 8 footer that really posed severe challenges,” Henry chuckles.
Those were the days when Guyana enjoyed fruitful sports relations with Cuba and a fair degree of success. During that time Cuban coach, Ernesto Thompson arrived here to assist in the general development of the sport.
“This was a blessing for local players,” Henry said. “Indeed, it was laudable and really improved the standard of the game.”
Shortly afterwards, Henry migrated to the USA with his family. He continued playing for a few years and then serious work commitments forced him back into school.
“Even then I was still willing to continue representing Guyana, but the local volleyball executive did not seem to be interested,” he said. As such, Henry went on with his life. He subsequently earned a licence as a General Radio Telephone Operator from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), Texas.
Now back home for a short holiday, the former volleyball player, after evaluating the situation, feels that there is a pressing need to revitalise the sport countrywide. “There are still a few stalwarts around whose expertise could be tapped, as was practiced during my tenure,” he said.
Commenting on the current state of the game, Henry said that the situation is appalling. He admitted that this is not for the lack of talent, but that of support and proper organising.
The Rollers Club is still functioning and the former player has pledged to render support to ensure that it continues to progress for years to come. He has also signaled an intention to support any future volleyball ventures planned in the Ancient County.
“Even though I know that my contribution to the sport is tangible I still feel that I could have done more,” he said. He also singled out Levi Nedd, another former player and his protégée, for commendations. “He has developed into one of the better local players,” Henry beamed. Nedd is the current national volleyball coach and resides in Berbice. “I am so proud of him he has come a very far way,” said Henry.
During his brief stay in Guyana recently Henry assessed the situation with a view of contributing later on to the all round improvement of a sport that has brought him immense pleasure. His only desire is to provide that kind of satisfaction to current players and those to follow. He feels nationally committed to such a venture.
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