Eion ‘Wico’ Leitch a talent ruined

Apr 14, 2013 Sports

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Charwayne Walker continues his look at the outstanding basketball players who represented Guyana at the National and International level with some degree of distinction.  This week we look at a talent that did not reach its full potential, Eion ‘Wico’ Leitch.
Who would have predicted that after Eion ‘Wico’ Leitch’s elevation to the National Captaincy in 1993, the 1994 Caricom Championship opening match against Suriname would be is last outing in National Colours.
Strange enough Leitch’s first match in senior colours was also against Suriname 1988 at the same venue, his entry to the Sport of Basketball was paved by the late Phillip George.
So it was no surprise why ‘Wico’ was so dominant offensively and as a defender he was second to none.  Unfortunately the discipline he displayed on the Court was sadly lacking off it.
Leitch battle with banned substance brought a premature end to a career that promised so much but before that moment of madness the former Sacred Heart Star boy was a crowd pleaser.
‘Wico’ first outing in National Colours was August 1985 with the National Under-19 team to Suriname.  His apprenticeship continued the following year 1986 when the National Under-19 team engaged the visiting USA High School team Palmetios in several matches in Georgetown and Linden.
The following year 1987 after some outstanding performances for Colts United at the First Division Level and Cummingsburg in Inter Ward action, ‘Wico’ was selected for Region 4 for the Guyana Games series.  He experienced limited court time because the triumphant Region 4 line-up had the likes of Mark Agard, Robert Cadogan, Ray Williams, Brandis Carmichael, Leon Christian, Dave Trotman, Eon Andrews and Nigel Hinds, but the experience young Leitch gained would later prove invaluable.
After the Guyana Games tournament Barbados Senior National team visited and Leitch was selected in a strong Georgetown line-up for the opening cash.  Playing his first Senior Game against Foreign opponents ‘Wico’ was Superb.   Although he failed to find favour with the selectors for that International Series he was destined to become Phillip George and Colts United First Senior National Player.
Moment of truth August 1988 Guyana hosted the seventh Caricom Championship and there were loud cheers from the Colts United supporters at the National Sports Hall when ‘Wico’ replaced Auric Tappin in the dying moments of the opening Victory against Suriname.  Leitch also featured in other games against Antigua, Jamaica, Aruba and Bahamas.
1989 first run in
with the G.A.B.F.
After some dominant performances for Colts at the first division level, ‘Wico’ was the talk of Georgetown basketball and in 1989 the Guyana Games Basketball Rivalry continued between Region 4 and Region 10 and ‘Wico’ was not daunted by the presence of Region 10 Caricom All Star Guard Auric Tappin and in a fierce battle of an established and an emerging Guard, tempers flared resulting in a fistic battle and Leitch was later penalized severely by the G.A.B.F. The diehard Leitch was banned for six months by the G.A.B.F resulting in him missing Guyana’s three Internationals against Barbados in December 1989 at the National Sports Hall.  ‘Wico’ returned to action the following year 1990 for both Colts and Georgetown in Inter Sub-association tournaments he also was outstanding in Inter Ward action for South Cummingsburg but had to wait until 1991 for International Opponents, because the G.A.B.F failed to send the National team to the 1990 Caricom Championship in Trinidad there were no Foreign invaders neither.
He returned to international action in February 1991 for Georgetown against Senators of Barbados at the National Sports Hall and after outstanding performances for Colts and Georgetown ‘Wico’ was selected for his second Caricom Championship, the host was Jamaica.  Although he was Mark Agard’s back-up at the Point Guard position he gave a good account of himself under tremendous pressure.
After Jamaica, Leitch’s next international assignment was Suriname for a Goodwill Series with the Auric Tappin led National side, this time he was the man calling plays, as ‘Wico’ explains the following year, August 1992, he contested his toughest series as a National Player.  The German professional team TTN Bomery visited the land of the Mighty Kaieteur Falls for three matches.  The tourist arsenal included two former NBA Players, two members of the German 1992 Olympic team and a 7ft 4 inches centre. Leitch was appointed Captain for all three matches, the local side loss widely but as he explained playing against such opponents was a blessing in disguise for Guyana’s Basketball.  Please note that was the only tour by a European Professional Club to Guyana.
1993 first taste of National Captaincy after the Germans visit the National selectors appointed ‘Wico’ as National Captain for three international matches against Barbados at the National Sports Hall.  With Leitch at the helm, Guyana playing with Rookie guards Lugard Mohan, Rawlwin Loncke, Rookie forwards Ralph Scotland and Kerwin LaFargue humbled the visiting Barbados in the series opener, but that was only a small consolation for Leitch and the boys because the lads from ‘Bimshire’ rebounded and took the series two games to one.
His next international series in charge was a triangular tournament involving Guyana, Suriname and DC Jammers.  Leitch led Guyana to the finals but again he failed to bring the bacon home, this time Guyana succumbed to the Washington based DC Jammers. After that tournament the National Skipper’s problems with banned substance intensified.
He left his beloved Colts and joined Rivals Pacesetters, but things off the Court remained the same.  The following year 1994, Guyana acquired its first foreign coach, Erik Rashaad, and ‘Wico’ Leitch was included in a 17 man Squad for a Goodwill series in Barbados.  After the Bridgetown outing coach Rashaad announced his squad for the 1994 Caricom championship in Georgetown and the name Eion Leitch was missing.
He was recalled and played the opening match against Suriname because the appointed Captain Auric Tappin failed to receive an early release from his employers Omai Gold Mines.  Leitch scored 12 pts in the opening victory but was omitted when the two times Caricom All Star Guard was finally released.
Although he was a prolific scorer in division one action he was ignored for National selection for the 1995 Caricom championship in the Bahamas and the 1996 Championship in Trinidad, the reasons for his exclusion was beyond Basketball.  Before his addiction ‘Wico’ Leitch was the player every youngster wanted to emulate.
International Tours
Suriname
Jamaica
Suriname
Barbados
Career High 19 Points vs DC Jammers -1993 – National Sports Hall
Caricom championship high – 12 pts vs Suriname – 1994 Cliff Anderson Sports Hall
Leitch’s First Caricom C/ship
Team (1988):
Leon Christian    – Captain
Auric Tappin
Mark Agard
Robert Cadogan
Robert Byass
James Brusche
Eion Leitch
Gavin Cummings
Brandis Carmichael
Heinrod David
Troy Thomas
Nigel Hinds
Mike Brusche – Coach
Vincent Alexander –
Manager

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