Not too many athletes make the successful transition from one sport to another, but, for Nicholas Verwey, the move from the football pitch to the squash court has seen him establish himself as one of Guyana’s premier junior squash players.
In less than four years as a squash player, Verwey has recorded unprecedented honours both locally and abroad.
As a result, you can make two general conclusions; firstly, he’s just a phenomenal athlete, and secondly, he is benefiting tremendously from the well-documented quality of Guyana’s junior squash programme designed and implemented by Carl Ince and his lieutenants.
“I started playing football at the age of five…I played for the North Mississauga Falcons in Ontario, Canada. There, I played defence and mid-field,” the 14-year-old told Stabroek Sport of his first love.
However, after migrating to Guyana, his interest shifted following an introduction to the racquet sport. He recalled being drawn in by the idea of being a solo act and not having to depend on anyone.
“After migrating to Guyana in 2016, I played football a few times at GFC and for Marian Academy in the Pee Wee competition but did not enjoy it here. I like the physical aspect of the sport but there were not many clubs, training, and competition in a structured manner for kids.
“My uncle, who played squash since High School, introduced me to squash and I found it very fascinating. I was able to transfer my sportsman ability and once I knew the rules and techniques, I was able to quickly win against my teammates.
“I decided to continue playing squash since I like the individual aspect of the sport. I know my performance is based solely on my physical and mental abilities on the day. There is no one to depend on when I get into the four walls of the court.”
After faring well locally and winning a few titles, the swiftly rising Verwey, at just his second junior Caribbean squash championship in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019, won silver in the under – 15 boys singles category.
He was defeated by his countryman Michael Alphonso in the final but Verwey seems positioned to better that second-place finish and land gold in 2020.
His ambitions, however, were curtailed by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, the Marian Academy student believes that a Caribbean championship-run isn’t at all a far-fetched prospect and his ultimate objective is to win gold.
“During the Trinidad CASA I won my first Caribbean medal. I was thrilled to make it into the finals, especially playing against my teammate. While I was a bit disappointed to not win the gold, there [were] lots of positive lessons learnt and memorable experiences,” he diligently explained.
Caribbean and possibly international success appears to be certain for Verwey. His natural talent is quite evident while his physical structure is another distinct feature.
Sure, there are a few technical aspects to iron out but he’s in good hands; the legendary Ince will sort that out.
Additionally, from what I’ve observed, Verwey sometimes outwit his opponent by wearing a wearisome demeanour and then suddenly producing a stunning rally to close the game.
Among the other noted reasons for his success are his commitment to a rigid training programme and his adaptive posture.
“I am an extremely competitive person when it comes to sports. I train hard, 6-7 days a week, and always push myself to be the best I can.
“Competition energizes me and while playing, I am in my own world. Each opponent brings out a different style of play in me, sometimes physical, sometimes mental, and sometimes analytical.”
He also credited the support given to him by his parents and coaches.
His most memorable moment on the court came in 2019 during the Caribbean championships when he defeated the defending champion in the semis, en-route to his silver medal finish. That win, he said, drove him to tears.
