Lenny Hyde Sr - a producer of talent
Published:Sunday | June 15, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
In a nation where too many men do not live up to their responsibilities as fathers, Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde Sr has to be lauded, as through the proper execution of his duties, the country has been blessed with some talented sportsmen.
The former national footballer, who represented the country from 1978 to 1991, is a father of five: daughter, Jadan, and sons - Lenworth Jr, Julian, Jamie and Jaheel.
Hyde Sr has literally been there for his children from day one, something he believes is very important for fathers to do.
"I was around my children from birth; I was even in the room when some of them were born," Hyde Sr shared. "It is very, very important for men to be present in the lives of their children; it is a must! I hate when I hear ladies talk about single parents.
"Even if you're not together with the mother, you must play a part as a father. Any little outing or anything, you go and carry your youth and be there for him. Some of them (fathers) will say it's the money they don't have, but just your presence can do."
The 55-year-old has, since his playing days, gone on to become a top coach locally, winning three national league titles, so it is no surprise that the love for the sport has extended to some of his children.
"They would come to my games, and when I was coaching, they were at every training session. And I went to their games; we just followed each other."
The eldest, Hyde Jr, who is 30-years-old, has represented Jamaica at the Under-23 level and has tasted national league success with Tivoli Gardens. Jamie (21) has also represented the country in the sport at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels.
Hyde Sr does not limit his children or compel them to play football, or any other sport for that matter. His daughter is not active in any sport, while Julian has taken up equestrian and was at one stage ranked eighth in the world as a junior. While at the senior level, he was the back-to-back Federation Equestre International (FEI) World Jumping Category B champion.
Sporting accolades
But the family's greatest sporting accolades to date have come by way of Jaheel. The 17-year-old represented the country in football at the Under-17 level and was the leading goalscorer for his school, Wolmer's Boys, in last year's schoolboy football competition. He has, however, shone even brighter on the track, as he is the reigning IAAF World Youth champion in the 110 metres hurdles. He won in a championship-record time of 13.13 seconds, just 100th of a second outside the world youth record, during last year's staging.
He followed that up by breaking the national junior record in the Class One 400m hurdles during this year's Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, winning in a time of 49.49 seconds. That was his second gold medal of the championships, having claimed victory in the 110m hurdles in 13.53 seconds.
Jaheel attributes even his track and field success to his father.
"I don't think I would be the person I am now without the type of father I have, to tell you the truth," Jaheel said. "The driven person that I am, the positive-thinking person, it rubbed off on me from my father from a young age."
Despite his personal passion for football, Hyde Sr would like to see his son stay on the track when he completes high school.
"I want him to run more than anything else," Hyde Sr shared. "I feel he is better at it, and he is more committed to the track. The effort he puts out in track training, he doesn't really put that out in the football, he is just naturally gifted and can play."
But for now, Jaheel is balancing both sports, and could come up against his father, who has assumed coaching duties at Kingston College (KC), in next season's schoolboy football competition.
"I am looking forward (to playing against his father), because him a talk off him mouth every day, so mi want to hold dem and beat dem," Jaheel expressed.
"I would love to have him (here at KC), but I don't see him leaving Wolmer's, so I just want to make sure I beat him," Hyde Sr remarked.