Although many sports fans remember Ellis Edgar "Puss" Achong best for his cricketing performances, it is the opinion of some experts that he reached greater heights at football. As a teenager he made a name for himself on the soccer field, representing Trinidad from 1919 - 1932 inclusive, in the latter stages along with his brother, Harold. A member of the fabulous Maple forward-line of the 1920's and 1930's, he cast a fine image for himself as a left-winger and was noted for his clever dribbling and crossing.

With Babsie Daniel on the right-wing, Achong made a great impression on the other flank for both Maple and Trinidad and it was inevitable that Maple would produce the entire Trinidad attack before long for inter-colonial competition. Joining Daniel and Achong in the national forward-line were the other three Maple stars, Clifford Roach, also noted for his brilliant cricket displays, Sydney deCoteau and Harold Achong. But cricket also held the interest of Achong during his colourful soccer days and he proved to be good enough to represent the West Indies.

He made his Test debut in the second Test against England in 1929-30, toured England in 1933 and played again for West Indies when England visited the Caribbean in 1934-35. During the 1950's and 1960's, Achong was appointed a Government cricket coach, and has helped many youths to develop their cricketing talents through the schools' coaching programme. It was once humorously said that Achong invented the "Chinaman," the slow left-arm ball coming out the back of the hand. And no one finds the joke more delightful than Achong himself, a cheerful man of Chinese extract, the first and only such person to play Test cricket.
(T&T Sports Hall of Fame bio)