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Sampson aims to make Essequibians proud with Guyanese selection
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News – Essequibo’s 22-year-old batting all-rounder, Quinten Sampson, is the only new face in a youthful Guyana squad selected to for the Regional Super50, which is scheduled to bowl off in Trinidad and Antigua shortly.
Quinten Sampson scored an aggressive 85 at Bourda during the Inter-Country Tournament. (Sean Devers photo)
Guyana, who have not won a title in this format since 2005, play their first game on October 31 against the Windward Islands in Port-of-Spain.
For the young man who never represented Guyana at any level, it was overwhelming when he got the news of his selection for his Country’s Senior team.
“When I received the news I didn’t know if to laugh or cry… I was so happy words cannot describe how I feel,” disclosed an elated Sampson, who joined Clyde Butts, Neil McGarell and Kenneth Wong on the list of Essequibans who never played at the youth level but made the Senior team.
Former Essequibo Pacer, Linden Joseph, played for the senior team before making his Guyana U-19 debut in 1987 in Jamaica.
“I’m confident when giving the chance I would try my best to make my country proud and also myself and my family,” said Sampson, an employed RC in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Sampson, who resides in Parika and plays his cricket for GPF in the City, spoke about the importance of doing well as an Essequibian.
“It means alot to me to show my Essequibo people that we have talent in Essequibo and that we need to back our self and perform at this level. This has always been my dream; playing for my Country at the highest level… this is a dream come true,” disclosed the bred Caria Caria resident, located in the Essequibo River.
Sampson hit nine sixes and five fours in 18 deliveries for Police during a GCA first division game. (Sean Devers photo)
It was his showing in the GCB’s Inter-County 50-over tournament that earned him a Senior Team call-up, especially his pugnacious boundary filled 85 at Bourda.
“My most memorable match is against Berbice when I made 85. I was playing against a Guyana bowling attack but I was batting with a positive mind set and the ball was coming on to my bat nicely,” said the enthusiast of Andre Russell and Quinton de Kock.
The big-hitting young batter knows there is still a lot work to be done on his cricket, ““I need to put more value on my wicket and spend more time at the crease,” he noted.
Sampson, who toured Trinidad with a Malteenoes team in 2018, is the only child of Eversly and Lloyd Sampson and attended the Aurora Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast.
“While growing up, it was really challenging for me when I was writing the Grade 6 exams. I had to go to a secondary school on the Essequibo coast all but myself. I was living in Caria Caria and had to stay at the dorms,” lamented the right handed batsman.
He recalled his transition in his teens from being a spinner to a pacer. “We were in Barbados for the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools tournament and the pitches were not making the ball turn and that’s when started bowling seam.”
“I moved to Georgetown because work in Essequibo was hard to get plus I was told if I wanted improve my cricket I had to go to town since there was no high level cricket tournaments being played in Essequibo. I got a job in the Police Force and began playing for them,” Sampson revealed.
“I want to say thank you to all the people who have helped in every little way especially my mother and Mr Ryan Hercules for the work he did with me,” said Sampson, who joins West Indies player Keemo Paul and Kemol Savory, as the players from Guyana’s largest County.
Sampson was just five when Guyana won its last Regional 50-overs title. He now has the chance help Guyana win their ninth next month.
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