His aim was to help youngsters in the sport of football, while building communities. Over the years, football Coach Lenworth “Lenny” Hyde has achieved this and more.

On Saturday, March 9, he is to be bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the third annual Atlanta Caribbean Community Awards. The event is set to take place in Lithonia, Georgia.

“Wow, it’s a great feeling man. I’m happy and elated that somebody in the Diaspora has seen the work that I have put in over the years in recognition of sports and football. It’s good to see that they can still honour you when you are around,” Hyde said in an interview with the
Jamaica Observer on the weekend.

He continued: “I didn’t go into football to get these types of recognition. I wanted to build youngsters and the community, so that people can look up to me and be a good role model for others. I will continue to work in this way and try to help as much as I can.”

Aside from Hyde, several other persons from the Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora will be honoured at the event including Manning’s School football Coach Everton Tomlinson.

Hyde’s career in football began at an early age while he was a student at the St Aloysius Primary school in Kingston.

“My interest started from a tender age of loving the game of football while attending St Aloysius Primary and the love for the game just grew from there. I went to St Anne’s Secondary School and then I got a chance to go to Clarendon College and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I put my all into it and then I made the transition into coaching and I’m still doing what I love,” Hyde reflected.

Asked how easy or difficult it was for him to make the transition into coaching, Hyde said, “It wasn’t difficult. As a player, you learnt from the best, you learnt from your coach. Winston Chung-Fah was my mentor. I also went through Jackie Bell, George Thompson and Carl Brown. You pick up little bits and pieces from these coaches, and I try to use it in my coaching style now. So, I just lift my hat to them.”

Hyde pointed out a highlight of his coaching career.

“I’ve had a lot of achievements but the Club Championship at Harbour View, which was an international competition, that was a standout moment for me.”

Hyde, who is presently the coach for Clarendon College, has had successes with Hazard United (Premier League winners), Tivoli Gardens (National Premier League champions), and Harbour View (National Premier League).

“For the past six to eight years, I have been coaching my alma mater Clarendon College. Three seasons we’ve won the Ben Francis Cup and four seasons we’ve won the Olivier Shield. I’m now at Dunbeholden and the work continues. A just my ting dat, football and coaching,” said Hyde.

His biggest goal yet is to take a team to the World Cup.

“I haven’t achieved my objective as yet and that’s why I’m still working. I want to get a team to the World Cup. That would be my utmost and you want to do it at the highest level,” Hyde said.