Quest University might finally have its answer for Bo Jackson in Abbotsford native Gurminder Kang.
Sure, he might not be breaking bats over his knees or straight-arming defenders like Mr. Jackson did in the 1980s and '90s, but Kang is set to become the first-ever Kermode to play on both the soccer and basketball teams when Quest opens its season on Wednesday (Nov. 9).
Kang said he was originally recruited to come to Quest for basketball but after mentioning to a tour guide that he won trophies in soccer, he was quickly put on the men's soccer team shortlist.
"When I went up for my tour they asked me what awards I've won and I told them about being selected to the North American all-star team at a tournament in Florida," he said. "The tour guide called the soccer coaches after that and it just sort of happened from there."
Kang played three games for the men's soccer team this season after the Kermodes were ravaged with injuries and he said he enjoyed hitting the pitch.
"It was unexpected but it was a lot of fun," he said. "The field is amazing and it's such a nice facility we have here to play soccer."
Men's soccer head coach Jonas Worth said it was nice to have a guy like Kang available to use.
"He's a really good athlete," Worth said. "And it would be really nice to have him on our team more regularly."
Soccer isn't exactly a passing fad for Kang. In addition to his experience in Florida, he played several years of youth soccer in Abbotsford and was also a key member of the provincial champion Abbotsford Mariners Metro club last year.
But Kang admits basketball is his first love.
"I like basketball better and basketball is really the reason why I chose to come to Quest," he said. "I've concentrated more on basketball and I'm really looking forward to the season."
Quest men's basketball head coach Sean Shook first approached Kang during an open gym session that took place at University of Fraser Valley (UFV) earlier this year. Shook invited Kang and several of his teammates to visit the Quest campus and Kang was hooked.
"We all went up there and had a tour and played some ball," he said. "It's a really nice place and it's sweet that a bunch of us decided to come here."
The Kermodes will have a distinct W.J. Mouat flavour to their squad this year, with rookies Josh Beasley and Sunny Johal joining Kang. All three players were part of the Mouat team that won the AAA Fraser Valley Tournament last year, a tournament in which Kang won MVP honours.
"It's pretty sweet because I already know some of the guys and know how they play," he said. "We already had chemistry from high school so it should be easy for us to adapt."
Kang also admitted he likes the opportunity for playing time that he hopes to receive on the Kermodes.
"For me personally I wanted to go somewhere where I could know what it feels like to play," he said. "I didn't want to go somewhere and sit on the bench all game. It should help me learn how to play the game at this level and give me a lot of valuable experience."
Despite the joy of joining the Kermodes, it wasn't the greatest summer for Kang and his Mouat teammates. They tragically lost friend and teammate Desmond Bassi, who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash in July. Kang said the loss of his friend hit him hard.
"Des was always great motivation for me," he said. "I always wanted to be like him. We grew up together, lived beside each other and played soccer and basketball together. We had great success and it sucks how his life was taken away so early."
Bassi had a football scholarship to Simon Fraser University and Kang said he had a lot of potential in the sport.
"I honestly think he could have gone very far in football," he said. "He was a superstar and it's really a shame he's no longer with us."
Kang said he and his Mouat teammates want to make Bassi proud and he hopes to help the Kermodes reach new heights this season.
"My goal is to become the rookie of the year," he said. "And as a team, I want to make the playoffs because they've never made the playoffs here."
Kang and the Kermodes will kick off the 2011-'12 season on Nov. 9, when they visit Capilano. The first home game will take place on Nov. 18, when Langara comes to town.
For more information on Quest athletics, visit www.questkermodes.ca.
