GCB Annual Awards Sanasie reveals plan for LBI facility; Crandon on Windies Coaching staff

Dec 21, 2018 Sports

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Story and photos by Sean Devers
Speaking to a large gathering at the annual Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Awards Ceremony at the Umana Yanna, GCB Secretary and Director of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Anand Sanasie, on Wednesday night revealed plans for the LBI Facility and informed that Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon was appointed Assistant Coach of the Windies Senior Team.
The audience included Prime Minister Mosses Nagamootoo, Minister with responsibility for Sports Dr. George Norton and Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyana’s leading run scorer and centurion at the Test level.
Sanasie spoke about the success of four-times defending First-Class champions Guyana Jaguars and attributed the success to hard work of the Coaches, the astute leadership of Leon Johnson, the consistent performances of the players but most importantly to the implementation and managing of Franchise system and the Academy contracts.
Sanasie also spoke about the success of four-times defending 50-over Regional U-19 Champions, Guyana.

“Since the PCL began in 2015 Guyana has won every year and although without six of our main players Jaguars have won their first two matches in the 2019 season while our U-19 team continues to do well”
He also disclosed that the LBI facility which houses the Chetram Singh Dormitory and Indoor Practice Facility is being upgraded to an International standard ground which will be used for Camps and practice matches.
“The ground and Pavilion will soon be completed while phase two of the project will encompass the installation of floodlights so we will have night matches to produce more Guyanese players in the IPL” said Sanasie.
The CWI Director also said that Guyana is a blue print for success in cricket and informed that Jaguars Head Coach has been appointed Assistant Coach of the Windies team.
Emmanuel Nanthan, Vice-President of CWI and a Dominican Politician, was scheduled to give the feature address but according to Sanasie he got stranded at the airport in Dominica but sent a message.
Among the things Nathan said in his message was that Guyana was leading the way in West Indies cricket he wanted come here and learn what Guyana was doing. Acting GCB President Fizul Bacchus provided a detailed account of the local and Regional tournaments for year while Dr. Norton said this was a fantastic year for Guyana.
“We got the CPL play-offs for the time and hosted matches in stand-alone Women’s World Cup in addition to senior and U-19 teams continuing their dominance” said Dr Norton.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo spoke about the importance of cricket to Guyanese and remembered his days at the Whim ground in Corentyne, Berbice.
“Butcher, Soloman, Kanhai all played there and I remember a man called Brother Permaul used to bowl the ‘snake ball’ and two old ladies who never missed a match at whim, they would dance all day” said the PM who is the uncle of Test leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and brother Vishal who kept wicket for Guyana.
After the presentation of Awards, Stabroek News’ Romario Samaroo, was recognised for his outstanding service as a cricket Journalist in the print Media, produced a brilliantly delivered speech on behalf of the Awardees which captured the attention of all those in the historic building.
Samaroo began his speech with a quote from Clive Lloyd who said someone once told him that speeches should be like a woman’s dress, long enough to be interesting but short enough to cover the subject, which triggered peals of laughter from the audience.
Samaroo said there is a great connection to Guyanese and cricket adding that ‘they are a number of people and things that try to divide us but tonight we are united to recognise hard work, dedication and passion.
The young Journalist thanked the GCB for their continued recognition of Guyana’s talent in before quoting Alan Armstrong who said that “Champions do not become Champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it”
Samaroo said Essequibo, who like the Jaguars, are hungry for the win, dedicated to the game and play as a family and it’s no surprise that they are at the top of Guyana’s cricket winning the 50-over and three -day Franchise.
“Berbice has seen the rewards of more cricket this year alone running off 30 tournaments and their players have excelled while dominating the youth inter-county tournaments and the female tournaments with over 30 players making it to the national level.

The support is also there from the public with almost every game played in Berbice having over 200 persons watching and encouraging the players.
Samaroo told the gathering that “We must encourage the past players to return to the fold and help build our cricket, imparting their knowledge and experience into the current crop just as my some of my seniors have done for me as a cricket journalist”
“I believe we can continue to create greatness but only if we all share the same vision and work towards it as one” Samaroo concluded to a rousing applause.
The Male Cricketer of the year was won by Shimron Hetmyer ahead of Kemo Paul and Chanderpaul Hemraj who were the other nominees while Shemaine Campbell copped the Female Cricketer of the year ahead of Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi who the other nominees.
The Best Franchise team of the year was double defending Essequibo while other nominees were West Berbice and Lower Corentyne. The Club of the year surprisingly went to Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club with Rose Hall Youth & Sports Club and GCC being the other two nominees.
Special Awardees
Sheneta Grimmond – Most promising female Cricketer of the Year
Chanderpaul Hemraj – Most improved male Cricketer of the Year
Kevin Sinclair – Junior Cricketer of the Year
Anthony Bramble – Senior Regional Cricketer of the Year
Mavendra Dindyal – Most runs in the Regional U-15 Tournament
Chanderpaul Ramraj – Most wickets in Regional U-15 Tournament
Sachin Singh – Most runs in Regional U-17 Tournament
Nigel Deodat – Most wickets in Regional U-17 Tournament
Sachin Singh – MVP Regional U-17 Tournament
Joshua Persaud – Most run in Regional U-19 Tournament
Kevin Sinclair – Most wickets in Regional U-19 Tournament
Kevin Sinclair – MVP Regional U-19 Tournament
Corporate Awards for outstanding contribution to the development of cricket through sponsorship: Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, Dave West Indian Imports, Scotia Bank.
Special Service Awards
Ryan Hercules – Dedicated and Outstanding Services as a Cricket Coach of the Year
Albert Dass (Head Curator Everest) – Dedicated Service as a Curator
Flemroy Lambert – Dedicated Service as an Umpire
Lusignan Ground – For invaluable contribution to the development and conduct of cricket matches
Romario Samaroo – For outstanding Services as a Cricket Journalist in the Print Media
Dr Puran Singh – For long and dedicated and unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of Guyanese Cricketers especially during their stay in Barbados.

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