Andrew Murray (Jnr) is set to retain his father’s destiny

Jun 19, 2011 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin

When Andrew Murray Snr became involved in an accident on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway on Jan 26 2002, he left a vacuum in the professional boxing arena since he was engaged in the promotional business and was in the process of promoting a card in the Mining Town.
Even before that, the late world rater had attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to lift the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title, and lost by a 4th round knockout to Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey, on August 25th 1995 in Cannet, France.
He was also accredited with the Medal of Service accolade for his contribution to local sport.
Apart from boxing, Andrew dabbled in football and his exploits in this sport was more than commendable even though he never made it to the national team.
They say that the chip doesn’t fall far from the block and true to this idiom, Andrew’s offspring, also christened Andrew, gravitated to the boxing arena. When his dad fought Ike Quartey, the younger Murray was a mere 6 years old tot.
Seven years later, he decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps and donned gloves.
A decent boxer himself, the younger Murray compiled a record of 32 fights, winning twenty nine and losing three, twice to Edward Skeete and once to one of the boxers of the Moore clan from Essequibo.
Despite his adroitness and concomitant success in the fistic sport, Andrew (jnr) always nurtured profound ambitions to be a footballer.
Obviously such yearnings derived from a genetic proclivity. And so it was that seven years after the passing of his dad, Andrew decided to spend more time on the ball field than in the ring.
He then became a member of the Pele FC and engaged in youth football. “Dexter Fort, a top player from Botofago FC (in Linden) saw me in action and suggested that I had a good future in the sport,” Murray reminisces. During that time, Dennis ‘Chow’ Hunte honed the skills of ball weavers of the Pele FC.
“I felt as though I had finally reached my destiny,” proclaimed Murray of his involvement in football. During his tenure at Pele FC the lad said he played 18 matches and scored 25 goals altogether.
The mercurial Murray soon decided to switch camps to Western Tigers FC where he continued his successful jaunt. His first real taste of success occurred in 2007, at 17 years old, when he was selected on the local senior team to ply his skills in Trinidad and Tobago in preparation for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament that year. “We played Caledonia AIA and won 2-1,” said Murray.
However, he did not score and said that he was somewhat disappointed in himself.
Amidst his involvement in the sport and despite his successes where he manned the right wing as a striker, Murray said that deep in his breast he felt that he had not found his calling. It was then that he met former national coach and current coach of the Alpha FC, Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover. “He saw me in action in the CFU qualifier in Trinidad and Tobago and told me that he was impressed,” intimated Murray. The result of those talks witnessed another change of clubs for Murray.
This time he opted for a stint at Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United FC.
Among his many experiences, two stood out. After fourteen matches in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) super league series he managed to register 8 goals out of 14 matches and was in line for the prize of highest goal scorer but Troy Prescod eventually got the prize after scoring one more than he did.
“I felt a bit down because I really worked hard for that award but these things happen in the game and I decided that there would have been other opportunities,” was Murray’s philosophical outlook.
The other experience that would remain indelible in his mind occurred when he was selected, along with several other footballers from other Caribbean territories to attend a one week trial course at the Academy of Light, Sutherland London, to continue honing his skills. “It was an excellent experience and I learnt quite a lot during that short stint,” revealed Murray.
He returned home upon completion and continued serving Alpha United in several matches including the Mayor’s Cup, several league matches and a knock against the Puerto Rican team, River Plate where he netted a crucial goal to propel his team to a 3-2 victory in the second encounter.
Andrew leaves Guyana this morning for national duties in French Guiana where ‘The Hammers’ are scheduled to compete in the Inter Guiana Club competition.
The lad has intimated that this may very well be his final game for sometime as he is re-entering the boxing ring.
“I will be requesting a professional license and expect to commence the second phase of my boxing career sometime in September,” intimated Murray. He did not elaborate on the reasons for his decision. “I have really enjoyed the time I spent on the football field,” was all he was willing to say.
Indeed, Murray appears to be serious since he has already contracted George ‘Kanchi’ Oprecht to tutor him to the top. He said that if all goes well he would be fighting sometime in September as a featherweight.
“My dad has laid a foundation, I hope to do much better than he has in the square jungle,” declared Murray. Obviously, he has the temperament. Time, the decider of fate, will tell whether he has the requisite determination and skill, two traits that characterized the career of his late dad.

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