Jacobs thinks CCC was his better choice

Mar 29, 2014 Sports

Proud of CCC’s win against Guyana

By Sean Devers
For 25-year-old former Guyana and West Indies under-19 Captain, Steven Jacobs, the decision to lead Combined Colleges & Campuses (CCC) in both the Regional Super50 and the ongoing Regional First Class tournament instead of representing Guyana was a hard one to make.
“Ultimately I thought CCC was a better choice because of the experience and exposure I would gain as Captain.

Steven Jacobs

This will help me to improve as a player,” the Malteenoes right-hander explained in an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News in Barbados this week.
Jacobs, now in Trinidad with the CCC team for their important fifth round Regional four-day competition against the home team, has played 18 First-Class matches, with four of them for CCC this year.
Jacobs is doing a Certificate Programme in Sports Management before doing a degree in sports science in September and plays for the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus in the Barbados division one season. This also influenced his decision since he already knew most of the players as team mates.
Jacobs showed leadership qualities even as an under-15 player and it came as no surprise when he was appointed to the lead the West Indies under-19 team in the 2008 Regional 50-over tournament in Guyana.
“I believe a good leader must be patient, wise and assertive among other things and I was happy to develop my skills even more after my experience as captain of Guyana at the youth level and also West Indies under-19 team,” Jacobs revealed.
Jacobs said he was proud with his team’s victory against Guyana but added a win always feels good regardless of the opposition.
“Cricket is a very unique sport because it very unpredictable …. But I think CCC emerged as the winners because we simply played better and out did the Guyanese boys.”
He however admitted that leading a foreign team was a bit harder than Captaining Guyana. “Yes as CCC captain I do feel more pressure because I think everyone is watching and waiting…. I have to prove myself.”
Touching on his personal performance so far, Jacobs, who has three fifties at this level since making his debut back in 2006, says would have liked to contribute more to his team’s work.
“This tournament so far have being rough for me but I set out to learn and develop myself outside of my home and on a different level and I think I have managed to do some good thus far. I have two preliminary games left after this one and I want to make sure I get some runs and also contribute with ball for my team and in the future,” Jacobs, who has a modest 72 runs and just two wickets from three matches before yesterday’s clash against T&T, disclosed.
“I want to play for West Indies but I can only get there with consistent performances so it’s a process and I won’t give up,” Jacobs, who played in the same under-19 World Cup as Indian sensation Virat Kholi, promised.
“I always work hard to become a better player at what I do. In this tournament I have being getting a lot of starts with the bat I just need to concentrate a little harder in the period that I am getting out so I have being working extra in the nets to get it right,” The level-headed youth from Kitty in Georgetown said.
Asked he was keen on playing in the second edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) says he definitely wants to play in the CPL again this year.
“It was an amazing experience and I learnt a lot from some of the established International players ….so hopefully once selected I will be ready,” the off-spinning all-rounder stated.
“My motivation is my family, girlfriend and everyone who supports Steven Jacobs in whatever I do …. But my mother and father always try to advise me so I can become better. They taught me to balance cricket with Academics in the event something goes with my cricket career …and I must thank them for that,” Jacobs pointed out.
“CCC are capable of making the semifinals….we have to get as much points from this game (vs T&T). We just need to execute well and we will be successful,” the CCC skipper said.
The CCC team was introduced into the Regional set up in 2008 to give those who wanted a University degree to still have the opportunity of keeping their cricketing career alive.