Duquan Hercules: Following in the footsteps of my father : … eyes another Digicel Schools Football title

SIXTEEN-year-old Duquan Hercules is on a mission – a mission which the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School student says is fuelled by living up to expectations of being the nephew of one of Guyana’s most gifted football players, Collie Hercules, and to live the dreams of the father he never knew. 

Duquan was just one year-old when a horrific minibus accident on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway claimed the life of his father Clive Hercules, along with more than five others.
“I have no knowledge of my father, just photos. I don’t know what he sounds like, but people say they see him in me everyday, especially when I play football,” said the younger Hercules in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport.
“I was born into football,” Duquan said, as he spoke of being part of a family whose name is synonymous with flamboyance and greatness on the football pitch.
Thanks to the Digicel Schools football tournament, the 16-year-old midfield player was brought to prominence where he helped his school to win their second title while playing an important factor in their quest to win a third.
Hercules plays the game with great grandiosity; smooth is his flow on the field and his trademark free kicks have certainly made him into a star in the local football circles.
“I don’t make much of it, I just try to stay humble and be the best in football and to do well at school because education is important,” said the 16-year-old.
He’s not known for scoring but has pierced the nets of many opponents on his way to winning two ‘Screw’ Richmond titles, the inaugural Kashif and Shanghai Schools football tournament and of course one of two Digicel Schools football tournaments, all with the school popularly known as ‘Multi’.
“I’ve been playing all my life as far as I remember but I played on the Upper Demerara team since I was 14,” Hercules said.
He added “It’s a lot of pressure being the nephew of Collie Hercules and they say my father was a great player. It’s hard because it means I always have to play my best.
When people see me play, they like to compare me to my uncle and some to my father, but I don’t know him. So I use that to always do my best. I have great respect for my uncle because he helps me a lot with training and tries to motivate me to stay on the right track and tells me to always be myself.”
But as much as Duquan praises his uncle, he says that his grandmother is the person who supports him and has been more than a mother and a father to him.
Grace Hercules, a national scrabble player, is a household name in Linden and is famous for her artistry with food, owning one of the most popular establishments in the Mackenzie market.
“My grandmother means the world to me. She inspires me to do great things and to stay focused in school, play football and to be a good person. I don’t know what I would do without her so, I think I will be good in the future because she tells me football isn’t all and I must be educated,” said Hercules.
In the meantime, Duquan said his immediate focus is winning another Digicel Schools Football Tournament and working on his craft to play at the highest level.
“We will win; Waramadong can’t beat us. I think we have what it takes to win despite everyone, every year coming to take the title. We have a lot of unity and we believe a lot in each other. The coaches are great and I hope people will come and support us in the Final because we work hard to be the best.”

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