Lenny Hyde already missing ‘favourite player’ Den Den
Published:Thursday | June 2, 2022 | 12:09 AM
FORMER NATIONAL player and local football icon, Lenworth ‘Teacha’ Hyde, said the late Dennis ‘Den Den’ Hutchinson was his favourite player of all time.
Hutchinson, who passed away on Wednesday after a prolonged illness, played with Hyde at Boys’ Town, Clarendon College, the University of Alabama, Medgar Evers College and at Tivoli Gardens.
Hyde, one of the most recognised and adored local footballers, says Den Den was a pleasure to watch as well as to play with.
“I knew him from in my teens when he played for Boys’ Town in the youth (Minor) League,” Hyde reminisced.
“He was a great player. He is the only forward I see go by defenders without even trying and always play with a smile.”
After leading Tivoli High School to the 1976 Manning Cup title, Hutchinson transferred to Clarendon College after he was injured in a shooting incident that year, and along with Hyde under late coach Winston Chung-Fah, they formed part of one of the greatest schoolboy football teams of all time. According to Hyde, Den Den’s addition was key to their ultimate success.
INFLUENTIAL
“When he came (Clarendon) he was so influential, he made the team a much better team. He was a very skilful player. I have never seen a forward that can take on defenders like he did, for fun.
“No defender could mark Den Den. It was fun to play with him and he was intelligent. He would know how to get out of situations most players could not,” said Hyde.
Hyde said one of his most memorable matches with Hutchinson was the Jamaica all-schools team against their Cuban counterparts in 1977.
He recalled how Hutchinson toyed with the Cubans the entire match and put on a real show for the spectators that day.
“He is my favourite player. He started playing big-man football before even me. He was playing Major League for Boys’ Town before me.
“I remembered the 1977 all-schools team and how he destroyed Cuba. He constantly let Cubans run off the field. The way he handled that team, you would have laughed the whole day,” he said.
The 63-year-old Hutchinson was also an outstanding basketball coach. He coached the Tivoli All Stars team to five successive national basketball titles.
The former Clarendon College, Boys’ Town and Tivoli Gardens winger for many years had a troublesome foot, which he was forced to have amputated a few weeks ago.
However, since being discharged from hospital, it was reported that he was not recovering well and as a result had to be readmitted on Sunday.