Table-tennis’ loss became Barbados’ football gain.
A bad experience in the latter sport, birthed one of the island’s most charismatic and intelligent footballers.
Former national midfielder Kent Hall, was on course at a very early age to be one of Barbados’ top table-tennis players, some may narrowly refer to him as a prodigy during his days of demolition at the St Gabriel’s School.
However, a strained relationship with his coach at the time, saw Hall put down the racket and picked up his football boots, which saw him journey from youth football prowess onto the senior men’s football team and into the hearts of many Paradise Football Club supporters.
The Ruby Park native began his football voyage in his neighbourhood with his friends and older brother Stuart who would play football amongst other sports for fun and exercise.
Hall’s passion for the game was initiated by the then St Philip League Powerhouse Ruby Ballers, who dominated the east and had a very boisterous and entertaining fan base, and more importantly played a brand of football which really interesting to a teenage Hall at the time.
According to Hall when he entered the gates of The St Michael’s School, he did not know anything of the school’s sports programmes and was athletically inactive for an entire year.
However, a schoolmate, Steven Leslie, invited him to play for the Graduates youth football club, who were on the decline at the time; attending games with an inadequate roster and suffering heavy defeats for it.
Hall then moved onto his hometown club, rather, he was one of the founding members of the Flamingos team, which was formed by older players in the Union and Ruby area who were competing at a decent level domestically.
It was an enjoyable experience to play with friends, Hall recollected, but he wanted more, he wanted to be challenged and play at a higher level.
Hall’s aspirations were quickly met by an invitation from Paradise coach Michael Foster who saw him in a game where Hall’s Flamingos lost to their more experienced Dover-based counterparts.
At 13-years-old Hall made his move to Dover, to the dismay of his friends, however it appeared to be a wise and profitable move, for, he was made captain in his first tournament, the team finished runners-up and the midfield magician was adjudged Best Midfielder in the competition.
This was the start of a 22-year relationship with the club, fans and residents of the Dover community.
Hall compared the Dover environment to a family, where the community heavily supported the team, was familiar with all of the players and really connected with the club in all activities.
It was such an enjoyable place to be that Hall admitted to spending more time at the clubhouse than at his home.
The late 90’s and early 2000’s were good times for Paradise as they won a number of league and cup titles, thanks particularly to a golden generation of players which included former national players; Paul “Soup” Lovell, Larry Lashley and Dwayne Gale.
Hall said this period made up his best times at the club and a significant moment in his career.
“We won the double in 2003 and I won the Best Midfielder in both competitions, Premier League MVP and the BFA Player of the Year. That period coincided with me cementing a place in the senior national team.”
It was not always smooth sailings for Hall. He remembers attending a number of youth national and combined schools’ tryouts but failing to make the selection.
“Players of certain characteristics were not appreciated. We always looked at flair as the epitome of being a player. I was more about the mastery of the basics, my game was based around passing and doing all the work that goes into being effective”, Hall explained.
Those characteristics were finally recognized at the national level and coach Kenville “Kab” Layne handed Hall his first national team call-up; making the U20 national squad.
Hall said the opportunity to play for the national team came after he was unable to break into a very strong Paradise team and he saw the chance to get playing time in the lower division.
This decision would prove to be pivotal in the evolution of Kent Hall.
“Playing Division One was an opportunity for me to demonstrate that I can perform. I captained that Division One team and we lost one game all season and came second in the league behind Empire. We were scheduled for promotion but after that they disbanded the team. This experience propelled my career”, said Hall.
After his U20 performances, Hall easily transitioned into the country’s U23 squad which participated in the 1998 CAC Games in Venezuela.
Despite some unfavourable results in the tournament, Hall’s performances were good enough for him to be called up to the senior training squad and he finally made his debut in the 2002 Gold Cup Qualifications in Grenada.
Hall said he was nervous and playing against regional powerhouse Jamaica did not help the situation, however, nerves are a natural accessory to the game and he adjusted.
“I was nervous of course. Every time you reach new levels, nerves happen. I was nervous, however, I was quietly confident because we had played some friendly matches ahead of the tournament. I felt confident that I belonged there, but Jamaica was good. I even picked up my first yellow card in that game”, Hall said jokingly.
Coincidentally Hall said his best moment in the blue and gold came against Jamaica in 2003; and in a very unique way.
“We defeated Jamaica in Barbados in 2003, 1-0 in an International Friendly. Jamaica didn’t take kindly to it and invited us to a rematch at the Office (Jamaica’s home stadium). I got to play against Theodore Whitmore. I can’t think of any time that I have played and felt so outclassed. I was totally impressed at the level he was at; it was hard to get anywhere close to him. What made it such a good experience for me was, it was an eye-opener- you have not arrived.”
Hall said one of his biggest regrets if any, was not becoming a professional, not for the fame or monetary rewards, but to gauge his abilities against the best around the world on a consistent basis.
Injury and a changed environment led to an unexpected and abrupt end to the international career of Hall.
Hall stated work commitments had a part to play in losing his starting role in the squad, however he explained that a number of challenges in the organization and management of the team at the time made him uncomfortable and it was below the standards he set for himself.
Couple that with a reoccurring ankle injury, which was treated nonchalantly by the management team and a rather unprofessional setting, led to the midfield maestro requesting a break from the squad.
After that request, Hall was never recalled to the national team, ending a very short senior international career; 2003-2006.
Hall’s exit from the national team meant he could be more committed to his beloved Paradise and it was absolutely necessary when the club was relegated for the first time in 2006.
This was a very difficult time for the Dover lads as there was a lack of leadership and a changing culture at the club, however, the players put the club first and immediately returned to the Premier League the following year.
Even though it was a heroic accomplishment to return to top flight football, Hall still felt empty and tried to fill his void by playing other positions, but he realized that emptiness was still present, until he was unintentionally tossed into the coaching role of the first team.
Still very active as a player, Hall took up the coaching reigns after the previous coach withdrew his services after one match.
With an undying love for the club and a warm reception from his colleagues, particularly the youth, Hall decided to be the tactical leader of the team for the 2007/2008 season.
“In my first season (as coach), we finished 4th in the Premier League and lost in the Knockout final to Youth Milan in extra time. At that point the coaching bug got me. I did recognize in that final that I needed to find a way to organize from a player-coach perspective.”
Hall’s tenure as the Paradise first team coach lasted for six years and he moved onto to continue his coaching journey.
Presently the Club Director of Kickstart Rush Football Club, Hall has built an organization of discipline, professionalism and technical competence over the last eight years, all primary ingredients for the international market.
“What Kickstart wanted to achieve in a concrete way, was what I was interested in. My dream was to always be a pro and Kickstart was actually trying to create opportunities for players to get off the island. That was a huge appeal to me.”
Hall believes that Barbados football is at the beginning of its transformation, specifically due to coaching education.
He is confident that the generations to come are going to be more educated, not just playing naturally or spontaneously as we have been in previous times, but accompanied with the guidance and teachings of their coaches, who are now properly equipped thanks to the information available from course experiences.
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