“It’s all about being a warrior, wanting to win.” 

This is a motto championed by the Israeli sports consultant, Yehuda Shinar, who helped to mastermind England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup and Scotland’s record-breaking 2006 Commonwealth Games medal haul.

It is a mantra that has been adopted by athletes of all ages, levels, nationalities and disciplines.  To be a winner, you must want it, and you must battle for it.

But few athletes can say they have embraced the maxim quite so closely, and successfully, as Kenny Bain.  Because those words may come from the teachings of Shinar, but they came from the mouth of Bain, when the (often overused, but this time entirely applicable) prodigious young Scottish hockey player met In The Winning Zone at his daytime base, The Glasgow School of Sport.

Yes, Kenny Bain is still a schoolboy, but he is already one of Scotland’s most accomplished sportsmen, and a winning one at that.  In 2005, at 15 years old, he was up alongside England and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.  A prize that in the previous two years had been lifted by personalities no less than Wayne Rooney and Andy Murray, possibly Britain’s most gifted and acclaimed youngsters in a generation.

So that is the measure of his talent and accolades so far.  And, still only 17, he quite literally has his whole career still ahead of him.  Although already a burgeoning member of the full Scotland international squad, he starred last month for his country’s under-18 side in Edinburgh’s EuroHockey Youth Nations Championship.  Scoring ten goals in five games, including two hat-tricks, he finished as the competition’s top scorer, and was voted Player of the Tournament.

But he has also suffered some disappointments in his fledgling career, never more so than when he missed the cut for Great Britain’s Youth Olympics team in January, who went on to win a silver medal in Sydney.

“I went to the Youth Olympics, but I didn’t actually get to play in the tournament. I got dropped just before it started.  I played in the warm up games and I scored two goals against the Australians, who are pretty good. But the coaches had picked their squad, so nothing changed.”

In true warrior style however, Bain took this setback and turned it around to his advantage.  Fuelled by the disappointment of missing out, he returned home a more determined player.  And before long the Kelburne striker got his reward.

“As soon as I got back I was playing at a peak in my season, because I was so angry at not getting a game. I scored loads of goals during the season and then Mathias [Ahrens, the national team head coach] called me up to the full squad to Egypt, for the first time, which was just amazing!
“I wasn’t expecting it at all!  First my Dad got a phone call to see if it was OK, because I was still 16 and I needed parental consent, they had to make sure I was allowed to go! 

“I then got a phone call from Mathias out the blue. I was sitting in class and my phone started ringing, but I couldn’t answer it. When I got out of school I got another phone call from Mathias who said ‘You’re coming to Egypt, so pack your bags!’  It was quite funny!”

And, as any star of the future should do, he took full advantage of his trip, not only in managing to score a goal on his debut tour, but in making sure to take in any advice and experience he could from the more senior players.

“I was sharing a room with Graham Dunlop, who is double my age.  He’s an Olympic GB player, and it helped me lots, especially being his room mate, he did look after me.”

And how did he make use of his esteemed room-mates company?  “We just sat in our room, chilling.  The best thing is not to talk about hockey and just get out of hockey mode, so then when it comes to hockey time you are on the ball.  And he’s just like that.  They are all so calm.”

Kenny Bain is more often than not the man who his team-mates rely on to put away the goals to win the game.  As a striker, it is his prime responsibility to do just that, his raison d’etre.  But there is more to Bain’s game than tucking away the chances.  He is a team player as well, and uses all the tools he has at his disposal to create a strong sense of camaraderie.

“When I am off the pitch I am the funny guy in the team who carries on and tries to keep everybody going, but when it comes to tougher situations, and people are looking to talk, I am always free to chat and give advice.

“And if someone isn’t performing well you need to encourage them to keep going.  You are a team so you can’t crumble.  And if you perform well the results should be on your side. 

“But sometimes you can perform well but just not put the ball in the net.”

Which is where Kenny – the goal machine – comes in.  Goal scoring is his gift, and combined with his fighting desire to win, he does it frequently and with style.

But although his role in the side is to be selfish in front of the goal, he realises the importance of a strong bond between the team, regardless of personal targets or motivation. “You fight for your place during the week, but when it comes to a Saturday, the team needs every player around you to be your best mate. Even if you don’t like them off the pitch, you don’t care.  ‘When it comes to business, he is your best mate.’  That’s what my coach says.”

Beyond the here and now of his hockey commitments, Kenny Bain has many ambitions for the future.  His immediate thoughts are on making the senior squad for this month’s European Championships (August 18th – 26th). 

He also quite fancies the idea of playing professional hockey in Europe or Australia.  And of course he has his eyes on the big leagues. Delhi 2010, London 2012 and (hopefully) Glasgow 2014 are paramount on his mind.  But, like any 17 year old, he also has other commitments to contend with.

“I need to go to college too.  I’m quite smart, but when I was younger I didn’t try hard enough in school and I haven’t done well enough to go straight to uni.  So I’m thinking of going to college to study business and then trying to get to uni from there.  All the while playing hockey though!”

So keep your eyes peeled folks.  If Andy Murray wins a Slam or Rooney wins a World Cup, we could see them on the podium yet again at the BBC Sports Personality Awards.  And if Kenny Bain can fulfil one or several of his major ambitions, there is reason to suggest this warrior may not be too far behind them.  Bain has game.

RO

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