‘Ken – I’ calls it a day from pro-ball

Kendall “Ken I” Velox has called it a day when it comes to playing football professionally, but now has his sights set on coaching.{{more}}

Velox, who spent twelve years as a professional footballer, rounded off his stint last December at the end of the Trinidad and Tobago pro league.

The adept mid fielder/striker began playing in the twin island republic in 1997 and spent two years with Caledonia. In 1998, he was the league’s top goal scorer.

Known there as “Short man”, Velox played for Joe Public from 1999 to 2000, before returning to Caledonia for the 2001 season.

Spreading his wings, Velox, then went off to Lebanon, where he represented Al-Nejimeh for one season. A short stint back at Joe Public in 2002 was his next move.

Velox then had his longest sustained sojourn, this time with North East Stars, from 2003 to 2007.

There he spent his most fruitful period, as in 2004, North East lifted the 2003 FA Cup, and one year later, lifted the pro league title.

Velox finished where he started, as for the last two years, Caledonia had his services.

During that time, he helped Caledonia hoist the 2008 FA Cup and Pro Bowl titles.

Reflecting on his professional career, Velox told SEARCHLIGHT: “I have developed and learnt a lot over the years”.

“In professional football, each player is a professional, and professionalism is an attitude. That is the big difference”, Velox said.

“The highlight of my career was winning the league with North Stars,” Velox reminisced.

In 2008, following St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ ousting from the World Cup Qualifiers, Velox put the end on his international representation, notching up in excess of 100 caps.

This ended 18 years representing the land of his birth at the senior level.

Velox has the most caps for any Vincentian – 34, at the World cup qualifiers level.

He credits his long range shot against Mexico at the famed Azteca Stadium in 1996, to beat Jorge Campos, as the best goal of his career.

However, his first national representation was in 1987, when he played in the Windward Islands Under-16 competition in Grenada.

At age 38, Velox is, however, not prepared to leave the sport just yet, as his next move is a career in coaching.

He disclosed that for the past season, while at Caledonia, he was assistant coach to his club’s reserve team and also helped in some youth coaching.

There is a strong likelihood that Velox will be part of the local Football set up, as the Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation has stated its intention to have some past national players as part of its technical staff.

Already on board is former stalwart defender Cornelius Huggins. (RT)