Barbados under-15 captain Nico Reifer is something special in the making and those who attended the Barbados Cricket Association’s Under-15 three-day final at Desmond Haynes Oval would know exactly what I am speaking about.

The young talented player knows what he wants in his career and intends to go after it. In fact, after yesterdays final, Reifer proudly proclaimed: “I want to become a cricket legend,” and a four-year scholarship to Whitgift Cricket School based in England is a step in that direction.

“I hope to reach all the way to the top and to become as people would say a legend and that’s always been a vision of mine since I started playing cricket at age five,” said the 14-year-old who led Queen’s College to their second consecutive under-15 final against Combermere that ended in a draw.

My first year playing club cricket was against Tony Reifer, he was called to trials that year.
We got him out cheaply in both matches we played against his club, the name was either Sheffield or Clippers, hope Powen can get the name for me.
Since then, the Reifer family was the Barbados fraternity, with Raymond playing regional, Floyd being the U-19 assistant coach and another one as a regional Umpire.
Nico has cricket in his veins, it is part of his DNA.

In reply to openning

Barbados keep coming eh! good

In reply to methodic

There is still a disconnect between the school system and the BCA, strong smart leadership is needed.
The BCA mirror the failed leadership of the WICB

In reply to openning

The last cricketer alyuh sent to England for Schooling is now sitting on England bench. The other Braithwaite disappeared off the scene.

Not sure if this whole scholarship to England thing works out for us.

In reply to Larr Pullo

It could work if the leadership of west indies cricket follow up on the progress these youngsters are making and handle them properly....loads of Barbadians go to England yearly but the powers that be seem to think that these fellas are to come and beg them to play cricket........Chris Jordan was there in plain sight and they overlooked him......their loss........he would come here year after year as soon as the county season done, and these jokers played all round the fella, yuh could only take so much, all the while the grass growing the frigging horse does be starving, the fella looked out for himself, whether good or bad, his call, and he will live with his choice.......the WICB is boo.....

I am happy for any youngster , regardless of what Country they come from , who shows talent & promise .

However , it is incumbent on those in the governance of Cricket in the Region , to do what needs to be done so that
talent & promise is harnessed nurtured & honed .

It is also the duty , of those in the governance of Cricket to make our talented Youngsters flourish , by having their talent & promise reach their full potential .

I am not sure , as currently structured , those in the governance of Cricket in the Region are up to the task of doing that .

It would be a crime of major proportions , if talented youngsters
talents wither away because those in the governance of Cricket in the Region , continue on the the current
path that they are on .

Currently , they are more interested
in amassing their Power & Grip of Cricket in the Region . Continuous
warfare with the Players , all to the detriment of Cricket in the Region .

It seems that the rise of Bangladesh
& Zimbabwe is of no consequence to them . All they care about is that the current structure remains intact & their power & grip on Cricket is not diluted .

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

I wonder what his prospects of playing for England are ?

Got a feeling that he may be lost to us once he has any great great grand parents who emigrated to the UK.

In reply to Str8_Drive

Why not congratulate the young man of gaining a scholarship and wish him well?
Being the best he can be, is what I want for all youngsters, I would no problem with anyone following their dream, if that mean choosing England.

In reply to Larr Pullo

In reply to openning

I totally agree with your assessment
regarding the Youngster & any other Youngsters in the Region .

In reply to openning

The first Reifer I ever heard about was Leslie Reifer who, along with Carlisle Best, dominated youth cricket one year in the mid-70s.

In reply to openning

Opening agreed, I do wish the young man well , I can see how my statement could come across. My thoughts was more reflecting on the sad state of our cricket. I wish that our cricket was so positioned that this young man would feel like he had a future coming back and representing his home.

As it stands now if my son were to have the opportunity available to him ,, with the current state of our cricket ,, especially the Administrators I would be very tempted to encourage him to play with England though my heart would be saying WI.

In reply to Larr Pullo

U may be on to sometin here, if the idea is to get into English university , yes ,
But cricket wise the English standard of cricket at school level is not superior to our.

On way congrats to young Reifer

In reply to tc1

Why did Larr not return to Guyana after his scholarship?
We all immigrated to make a better life for our selves, why would you want to deny another person from doing the same?

In reply to openning

I am questioning if the standard of cricket at the school level is superior to that in the Caribbean
If the student/ athlete seeks to further his education fine, this is a great opportunity to gain entrance into the university.
Case of Ruel Brathwaite, Cambridge civil engineering program, their is life after Playing days are over

In reply to tc1

You will have to look at the structure of the schools and the affiliation with counties.

Have a look and program at the school, Anthony Alleyne, Jordan and others attended, and compare the program to the local schools.
Dulwich College

In reply to jacksprat

Tony Reifer was the first. He came to fame by dismissing Sobers at trials. However i don't think he made the national team but dominated club cricket. ...which is hallmark of all the Reifers

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

Did he ply for Sheffield or Clippers?
You are a transplanted man, now living in St. George, so someone will be able to give you this info.
I am sure it was not George Park.

I will go to my grave, believing Sobers gave him that wicket, Tony did nothing against the worst team in the history of cricket , then to be called to trials and get Sir Gary

In reply to openning

I don't recall which club

In reply to openning

[b]In reply to FuzzyWuzzy[/ Openning/b]

he did not dominate BCA, he dominate the BCL

In reply to imusic

Not saw him, played against him twice in 1967,
Why would I go and see him, he failed miseably against us, He is much older.
I also played against Vanburn Holder, his last game for St. Leonards and saw Richard Stoute acting like a clown also.
All these guys are around my older brother age, and he keep telling me he in old.

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

U remembered that game, u and Opening are senior openers.
I remember Tony Reifer,

The St John baptist player was Luther king or Thorne ?. he used to score tons in the BCL

In reply to tc1
Luther Thorne ring a bell, watched them against Arsenal

In reply to openning

In reply to openning

You're even closer than imusic first thought bro lol

In reply to imusic

My brother still tease me about that team, Amalgamators it was called, one match we scored 9 runs in the 1st innings and 6 runs in the 2nd innings.
I had to move to Yorkshire, the BCL pitches were something else, playing in the road without pads, would had been better.

In reply to doosra

Still feel and look good.
145 lbs without an ounce of fat.

In reply to openning

A certain infamous poster comes to mind

In reply to tc1

Luther King

In reply to openning

R u Walter Husbands, the Jockey

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

Kool, from your area

In reply to tc1

I don't know any jockey, was never a race man, too boring

In reply to openning

Walter Husbands was from my Neighborhood, never won a race, however his 3 sons are all good jockeys.
In fact Patrick was the national jockey from Canada

Patrick Husbands is a boss. Dominates Woodbine to this day

Arguably Barbados' greatest ever athlete.

Bajans have a great tradition with the horses. Always remember the combo of Venice Richards and Eric 'Colt" Durant. Unbeatable in their day

In reply to imusic

Venice was good, but my favorite was Clarke. Did u still have boxing day, Trini Vs bajan.

Kashwar brothers

In reply to imusic

In reply to doosra

Or the horse.

In reply to doosra

Maybe he meant sportsman

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

he and openning jockeying for "who shall leave first" haha

kidding

In reply to Commie

Isn't Jonathan Drakes, Vassie's son? He took some wickets in the last tournament and if his father is guiding him look out for his progress once he listens. Remember Vasbert Drakes coached and trained NTINI from SA.