By Marlon Munroe
All who delivered speeches on Monday evening at the Windjammer Hotel identified with the success of the national men’s cricket team winning the inaugural Caribbean Twenty Championships.
That one-wicket win in the final against Barbados two weeks ago earned Guyana the right to represent the West Indies in the Airtel Champions League in South Africa next month.
And the national women’s cricketers, who departed Guyana yesterday for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) 50-over tournament in St. Vincent, were asked to strive for similar results.
Master of ceremonies and Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Terry Holder, President of the GCB Chetram Singh, General Secretary of the GCB Anand Senasie Chairman of Selectors Claude Raphael and Executive Member of the Board Ronald Williams implored the women to reflect on the success of the men’s team and do Guyana proud.
And in an atmosphere of anticipation when the time came to respond, the manager of the team Ava Baker and Captain Shemaine Campbelle stated that they will be striving for similar success to make Guyana proud again.
Guyana will play their first match tomorrow against Trinidad & Tobago at Sion Hill.
In the first speech of the evening Singh also asked the ladies to maintain Guyana’s reputation of being one of the most disciplined countries. “Be good ambassadors of our country and remember what you have learnt throughout your training,” Singh urged.
And while the governing cricket body is facing its share of hard times and alleged scandals, Singh told the 14 ladies to strive for excellence on and off the field. He wished the team success in St. Vincent and asked them “to bring home the trophy.”
Senasie in his brief remarks told the ladies that it was reported that the team is one of the fittest ladies’ unit leaving the country for some time now. He too stressed the need for the cricketers to bring back home the “coveted prize” which will further boost the country’s cricket potential.
Raphael noted that he was impressed with the team and he is positive that it will do Guyana proud. Guyana were knocked out in the first round of the tournament which was held in Guyana. The chairman told the ladies to remember their training and the basics when they are abroad against their opponents.
Baker, referring to what the speakers who preceded her had said, declared that she was moved by the support shown to the team and she promised that her charges will do Guyana proud. She emphasised that she will be calling on them to dig deep when they are in the tournament to ensure success.
Campbell reiterated what she had previously said to Stabroek Sport – that her team will be going into the regional women’s 50-over tournament thinking that it is a number one ranked team. Campbelle, 17, who played for the West Indies during this year’s ICC Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, noted that the players have dispatched the burden of last year’s first round exit from the tournament.
She also pointed out that their first hurdle will be getting past the defending champions T&T, whom she said had won the battles of the past. “We are in a good position to overcome them this year and I have confidence in myself and team that we are going to beat them this year,” she stated.
She acknowledged having dreams of Guyana winning the tournament and therefore she will be looking to get the best out of her players.
Guyana team reads: Shemaine Campbelle, Onica Walleson, Abena Parker, Zaheeda Samdally, Joann Vansertima, June Ogle-Thomas, Sinnead Emerson, Subrina Munroe, Erva Giddings, Nikita Toney, Melanie Henry, Prudence Williams, Tracy Williams and Tremayne Smartt.
Manager: Ava Baker and Coach: Michael ‘Franco’ Hyles
FIXTURES
All matches start at 10 am.
Zone A: Jamaica , Barbados , St Lucia , Dominica
Zone B: Trinidad and Tobago , Guyana , St Vincent and the Grenadines , Grenada
Thursday, August 12
Jamaica v Barbados at Arnos Vale 1
St Lucia v Dominica at Stubbs
Trinidad and Tobago v Guyana at Sion Hill
St Vincent and Grenadines v Grenada at Arnos Vale 2
Friday, August 13
Jamaica v St Lucia at Sion Hill
Barbados v Dominica at Arnos Vale 2
Trinidad and Tobago v St Vincent and the Grenadines at Arnos Vale 1
Guyana v Grenada at Stubbs
Sunday, August 15
Dominica v Jamaica at Stubbs
St Lucia v Barbados at Arnos Vale 2
Grenada v Trinidad and Tobago at Sion Hill
Guyana v St Vincent and the Grenadines at Arnos Vale 1
Monday, August 16
Semi-final 1: 1st of Zone A v 2nd of Zone B at Arnos Vale 2
Semi-final 2: 1st of Zone B v 2nd of Zone A at Arnos Vale 1
Play-off 1: 3rd of Zone A v 4th of Zone B at Stubbs
Play-off 2: 4th of Zone A v 3rd of Zone B at Sion Hill
Wednesday, August 18
Final: Winners of semi-final 1 v Winners of semi-final 2 at Arnos Vale 1
3rd place play-off: Losers of semi-final v Losers of semi-final 2 at Stubbs
Winners of play-off 1 v Winners of play-off 2 at Arnos Vale 1
Losers of play-off 1 v Losers of play-off 2 at Sion Hill