Umpire Jaipersaud Hardeo (right) receives his plaque from BCB President Keith Foster
Three outstanding Berbice cricketing heroes were honoured by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Special Events Committee under the Board’s ‘Tribute to Heroes Programme’.
Those recognised last Sunday during the presentation ceremony for the ABS 40 overs first division final at the Rose Hall Welfare Centre ground, were umpires Roshan Moakan and Jaipersaud Hardeo along with veteran 1st division player Moses Samlall.
Each of the Awardees received a plaque as the board strives to recognise the outstanding contributions of those who contributed to the County’s cricket development but are otherwise hardly recognised.
Chairman of the Special Events Committee and Public Relations Officer of the BCB Hilbert Foster stated that the programme which was launched last year saw four (4) persons – Carl Moore, Mortimer George, Malcolm Peters and Rafeek Latiff honoured.
Umpire Moakan who is currently the President of the Berbice Umpires Association (BUA) has been involved in Berbice Cricket as an umpire for 25 years. He was the 4th Berbice umpire to fully qualify and has played a major role in raising the standard of umpiring in the county.
Jaipersaud Hardeo has over 30 years of experience as an umpire and has held numerous positions on both the BUA and BCB. He has also played a key role as a positive role model to numerous cricketers, especially those at the junior level.
Former 1st division player Moses Samlall was recognised for his contribution of over 40 years to the game as a player and administrator. In his heyday on the field, he was a left-arm leg spinner and capable lower order batsman for Berbice and the Blairmont Club, retiring in 1997 at the age 52.
He has been activity involved in the club since then as an administrator and currently serves as a junior cricket selector for BCB.
The awardees expressed gratitude to the Board for honouring them, saying that it felt special to be recognised for the years of service to the game.