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Essequibo’s Rising talent Quentin Sampson aims high
By Zaheer Mohamed
He is one of the latest exciting cricketing talents to emerge from the Cinderella County of Essequibo and like many other star cricketers he developed a passion for the game at a tender age.
Quentin Sampson hits out during a GPF Commissioner T20 tourney.
Twenty- year all-rounder Quentin Sampson hails from Caria Caria which is situated on the left bank of the mighty Essequibo River, roughly an hour’s journey by means of speedboat from Parika.
He first got involved with cricket at the age of eight at the Caria Caria Primary School. Following the National grade six assessment, Sampson landed a place at the Aurora Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast. It was at this institution that he began to take the game seriously and after turning out for the school in local tournaments, he was encouraged to join the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Sports Club by Coach Forbes Daniels.
Subsequently, Sampson was selected to play for the President’s XI in the Guyana Cricket Board Inter County U15 tournament. His first assignment for Essequibo came at the inter county U17 level; he also played for the county at the U19 level and was selected to play for St. Joseph High in the Sir Garfield Sobers schools tournament in Barbados.
At the age group level, Sampson had shown the type of commitment needed to go on the next level, even though he had mixed results on the field. He then became a member of the Rising Star Sports Club on the Essequibo Coast before moving to East Bank Essequibo where he turned out for Parika Salem Sports Club.
Sampson was then encouraged by Coach Ryan Hercules, a former Guyana U19 player, to join the Police Sports Club in Georgetown.
The all-rounder turned out for F Division in the Guyana Police Force Commissioner T20 Cup and notched up three half centuries; he also proved more than a handful with the ball bowling medium pace.
In his first season for Police at the Georgetown Cricket Association second division level, Sampson struck two centuries and four fifties, his performance helped him earned a place on the Essequibo franchise team.
In the local franchise league in 2019, he slammed three half centuries including a highest score of 67 versus East Bank Demerara; he was also among the wickets.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport recently Sampson said his desire is to represent the Guyana Jaguars and move on the higher levels. “Playing for your country is an honour, I know it will be challenging, but I am prepared to work hard. At the moment I am training at home eagerly awaiting the resumption of the cricket season,” he said.
Sampson stated that Essequibo has a balanced team and he enjoys playing for the franchise. “I was pleased with my performance in the last franchise league, however I could have done better, but I didn’t capitalise on the starts I got in some of the games.”
“I am looking forward to the next franchise, definitely I would like to score heavily and pick up more wickets. There are a few things that I have placed much emphasis on, so that I can spend more time at the crease and improve with my run-up as well. It’s all about being positive.”
Sampson, who also represented Georgetown Cricket Club at the U19 level, said he first started to play softball cricket at Caria Caria and was afraid of the hardball game. “My village Caria Caria usually hosts sporting activities involving teams from neighbouring communities such as Saxacalli, Bonsika, Hogg Island, Troolie Island, Essequibo Coast, Wakenaam and Parika, and I would be given an opportunity to play for the host at softball cricket.”
It was at one of these games that Sampson got the motivation to play hardball cricket. “I was encouraged by the players from the other teams to get involved in the hardball game. After they saw me in action, they told me that I am talented and I can make a name for myself in the sport. I was afraid at first, but after I moved to Essequibo Coast, Coach Daniels and Sir Andy Ramnarine provided the necessary guidance and my love for the game grew tremendously.”
Sampson informed that Caria Caria and other riverain communities in Essequibo has an abundance raw talent and feels that if the youths there receive guidance they can go a far way. “There is a lot of talent in those areas and if coaches from other areas in Essequibo can visit and conduct sessions there, it will certainly benefit the youths and we see them going places.”
Sampson no doubt has the ability to take him to the next level, and with the commitment, dedication and determination he can very well follow in the foot-steps of fellow Essequibian Keemo Paul.
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