Not Enough Done For Winning T&T Team

It has been more than a week and still counting but yet still nothing tangible has been done for the successful Trinidad and Tobago one day cricket team that won the President's Cup in Barbados. What a shame!!

What does it say about our administrators in sports, that none saw fit to organize an event for these youngsters, a simple act that would best send the clear signal that as a country, we appreciate what they did.

This was not about only the fact that this was the first time in over eight years that we have won the limited overs tournament, or the fact that in all the years of the tournament, this was only our seventh lien on the prestigious crown.

No, people, this was about cricket matches, where boys became men, by a mere shot or a mere delivery. This was about rank novices at international level grabbing the moment and understanding that winning is fought in the mind and heart as well.

This bunch of sixteen, including the management team, was a family.

When the players spoke on i95.5fm Isports Cricket Thursdays, it was touching to hear them say that every Sunday the squad would pray together. In this day and age, where it difficult to convince youths to listen to any religious leader, this is a marvelous triumph of trust and discipline that explains the "never say die" approach of this team.

Perhaps it is the fact that this team had no stars, that this team had no player who had walked in great company in the past, or just that when you listen to the outpourings of any member of this squad, it was not about "i" or "me", but always "we" and "us".

Selfish play was no longer the order of the day; instead it was about supporting each other, if one day, a player disappointed, then somebody else would step forward hungrily. Each man could be accounted for.

Therefore, when it is clear that the Ministry of Sports or Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Youth Affairs, or whatever Ministry it is, decides to do absolutely nothing but applaud itself with some grandeur talk of a new cricket venue and working with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, it is a signal of the mediocrity that we have in control of our affairs.

In all of this, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control cannot find it fitting to host several functions in all sectors of the country to promote the players, in order to let the players understand how much good their success has done for the country?s sporting image.

No, this cricket board prefers to tell the media that the result shows just how much their policies are working.

There should have been a parade of this team; they should have been honoured with celebrations.

The public need to witness their heroes, not only by television, but in the flesh. The joy and pleasure that these youngsters would have felt would have added to their confidence and given them further incentive to do more.

We are not talking merely about monetary assistance here, but there are other ways in which we can help these youngsters, apart from giving them a bonus for their success. Money does not buy everything, Mr TTCBC.

It certainly does not buy peace of mind, and that can only be achieved by establishing a system whereby these cricketers who have completed their schooling can be gainfully employed. This would allow them to just play the game, free of pressure.

University qualified Sherwin Ganga is a prime example of this, he should be given employment under a cricketing scheme run by the TTCBC, but that would only happen if the officials at the TTCBC were professionals.

From a financial point of view, it does not pay to play cricket for your respective territory in regional tournaments. This is something which the West Indies Players Association is working tirelessly to justifiably correct over time.

There are some who are callous enough to suggest that if Brian Lara was the captain and on this team, there would have been major motorcades and parades and a large contingent of government ministers smiling and taking photos with the players at every opportunity.

I can only say that if there is one grain of truth in this, I would be very surprised.

How many people can name the thirteen members of the team that won us back our pride in cricket? Those two victories over arch enemy and heavy boasting Barbados are still sweet in the mouth. As for beating Jamaica, with all their stars, that proves that our team had brains.

It was stated by the current management team (manager Omar Khan, coach David Williams, and trainer Gerard Garcia), that there was no concern with discipline and time management with this young squad. These players had no excess baggage and the management could rest assured that the curfew time of 10pm was strictly adhered to and adhered to without any grudges.

Also it was stated that experienced players did not just wear the national colours because they felt obliged or forced to by the West Indies Cricket Board?s restrictions, but these players all wanted to play for their country regardless of any rule.

There was no Brian Lara, there was no Meryvn Dillon, and there was no Dave Mohammed on this team, just to mention a few of the bigger names.

It is not too late to honour these players -- we should not just shrug off this victory as if it was just another success; we do not have enough of them to do that. As well, Trinidad and Tobago?s seven wins in one day regional tournaments is the most by any country: Guyana have six victories and Barbados have five wins.

Let us all hope, something grandr is done sooner rather than later for these youngsters. To watch their faces as they listen to Fazeer Mohammed describe the final victory over Guyana, was to witness pure, unadulterated joy.

These players gave us pleasure: captain Daren Ganga, Sherwin Ganga, Gregory Mahabir, Shazzam Babwah,Ricardo Powell, Richard Kelly, Dinesh Ramdhin, Johnathan Augustus, Earnil Ryan, Rodney Sooklal, Imran Jan, Theodore Modeste, and Reyard Emrit.

Let us pray that this team can stay together for a long time.

Thank you guys, you made all of us proud.