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‘You were put on Earth to achieve your greatest self’ – GCC’s President tell Leon Johnson
By Sean Devers
The mood at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) last Friday night was one of pride
Leon Johnson is presented with his photo by GCC President Lionel Jaikarran while Coach Monty Lynch shares the moment.
and celebration as World famous club, venue for the first ever test win by West Indies in 1930, honoured Leon Johnson, its newest Test player at a specially arranged function at Bourda.
On September 13 in St Lucia, Johnson became the 300th player to play at the highest level for West Indies, the 48th from Guyana and 14th from GCC. The occasion was even more memorable for the 27-year-old Johnson since the Regional side was playing the 500th Test since their first in 1928 in England.
GCC President Lionel Jaikarran was elated and emotional and warned the gathering that if he became emotional it was with good reason.
He informed those present that Leon began his career at age 12 under Coach Harold Dhanraj after joining the club in April 2000. Jaikarran added that Johnson, who has two centuries and 20 fifties from 51 First-class matches, made his First-Class debut at 16 and lead the West Indies Under-19 side in the 2006 youth World Cup.
Johnson, who scored 66 and 41 in his debut Test, has also returned to the West Indies ODI team to tour India next month after playing his only three ODIs in Canada in 2008.
“Today Leon is embarking on a new journey and what an honor it is for the Georgetown cricket club that Leon now joins the long list of Test cricketers from the club,” the GCC Head said.
Johnson joins 13 others from GCC who have played Test cricket including modern day players like Faoud Bacchus, Carl Hooper, Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Reon King and Neil McGarrell.
“Leon you were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self and do it courageously,” Jaikarran added.
Also speaking at the function were past GCC President Paul Chan-a-Sue, GCC’s head Guyanese Coach Monty Lynch, the former England International who has played a huge role in Johnson’s career and Richard Jodah, the ex-Guyana under-19 player who has seen Johnson’s career flourish from when he started his career.
Also present at the function were Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Anand Sanasie and Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) President Raj Singh along with Johnson’s team mates at GCC and his National team colleagues Chris Barnwell and Trevon Griffith.
Johnson, who had his photograph put on the wall with the others from the club who played test cricket, thanked everyone for their good wishes and promised to do his best in India in the ODI and the three Test series. He gives the West Indies an additional option with his off-spin.
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