VOR...Hosein’s Rise: Forged by Mentors, Not a Sammy discovery

Hosein’s Rise: Built in Laventille, Forged by Mentors, Not a Sammy Discovery

So the headline this week is all about Coach Darren Sammy’s “big call” in handing Akeal Hosein the captaincy for the Nepal tour. The applause has been loud, the praise flowing and sure, a West Indies coach putting trust in a young leader is worth noting. But let’s not rewrite history. Hosein didn’t appear out of thin air, waiting for Sammy to “spot” him. His story was burning long before Sammy ever entered the picture.

Go back to Laventille. A community left struggling, generation after generation, while the system looked away. That’s where Hosein and Khary Pierre were raised—where cricket was both escape and calling. And it was Kieron Pollard, not Sammy, who saw the spark in them.

Pollard moved mountains for Hosein. He leaned on Sunil Narine to give Hosein a free apartment. Then he got him a job He fought to get him into Fatima College. He sent him to England to tough out a summer in the second division. And then, under the hard eyes of Narine and the Bravo brothers at QPCC, Hosein was sharpened like steel. Those nets weren’t coaching sessions; they were exacting, punishing laboratories of discipline. Narine spinning, the Bravos firing in, Pollard staring you down if you lost focus. That’s where discipline was learned. That’s where character was carved.

When Hosein drifted, Pollard corrected him. When Hosein doubted, Pollard pushed him. When Hosein thought he had made it, they reminded him he hadn’t yet proved anything. That’s the groundwork. That’s the graft.

And today, when people clap because Sammy handed him a captaincy, let’s keep perspective. Darren Sammy deserves credit for recognizing Hosein’s readiness—but this was never Sammy’s discovery. His role is simple: trust what has already been built.

The architects—the ones who deserve the true praise are Laventille itself, Pollard, Narine, and the Bravos, who poured belief, mentorship, and hard truths into Hosein for years. The media may want a neat headline about Sammy’s vision, but the reality is harder, messier, and far more inspiring.

Let’s call it straight: Darren Sammy named Hosein captain. But Pollard, Narine, and the Bravos made Hosein a captain.

And there’s a world of difference between the two.

Sarge...

In reply to sgtdjones

So maybe they should have made him VC or Captain of the TTKR after all that investment in his development. Sammy identified him as a Leader and entrusted him with the position.

In reply to voiceofreason

Is that your summation after reading my blog?

Could it be they think he is not complete ...? Did you not hear Hosein say that he has a long way to go to be classified as an all-rounder?

Sammy has no say in Hosein's capabilities, the intelligence on a cricket field, and with a bat or ball?

Pollard, Narine, and the Bravos made Hosein what he is today, and not Sammy. The reality is harder, messier, and far more inspiring.

Who has Sammy mentored to be a captain?

In reply to sgtdjones


He was asked a question inr elation to his allround capabilities and answered it honestly. Nothing wrong with that.

Again this is not about his all-round capabilities or who helped him to develop his bowling or batting but the one who identified his leadership capabilities and entrusted him with the position.

In reply to voiceofreason

You chastised Trini's for saying Hosein is not ready for such a promotion...

You retorted that Trinis want to see Sammy fail....No, that's not the case.

Trinis want to see their players not discarded like Da Silva; he did what he was asked to do...

Where did he end up?

Hosein/Pierre and a few others are players in development, by past cricketers Badree, Ganga, Bravos, Pollard, Narine et al

Trinis don't want to see another Da Silva...

Who has Sammy developed leadership capabilities with? Is there someone he developed in St. Lucia?

How can he help Hosein...by running down to the boundary ropes and on occasion avoiding such?

In reply to sgtdjones



Just when the man was ashamedly trying to build a case, in the likelihood Hosein has success in Nepal you slap him down.

In reply to JoeGrine

The kiss of death.

Those kinds of petty, and divisive things that lead to West indies always left in the back in so many things. We major in minors. A captain is picked, and the debate is reduced to putting down someone in order to elevate some other/s. it should be complementary actions that leads to the eventual result. That should be the aim, but insularity raises its ugly head so often. Congrats to Hosein. Glad to see Laventille being hailed.

Let's see how he does before coming to conclusions

In reply to sgtdjones

Sammy has mentored youngsters inclusive of Auguste and Gaston and look what they did this season. Auguste was the U-19 WI Captain.


How many games he played this season?

Carty has digressed under their stewardship as he does not have a role and was benched for Darren Bravo who had not played competitive cricket in 2 years.

In reply to sgtdjones

Hosein rose to prominence under the nurturing of Kieron Pollard.

Just as DJ Bravo under Lara.

Sammy' rise came through the harnessing of Hunte/Hilaire.

In reply to InHindsight



That's a sad harnessing...

Don't let certain posters see such a word?

In reply to InHindsight



Did they win...They are like their mentor ...he lost in playoffs...Hosein didn't?



He complied with the request made of him...wasn't selected after the stats he produced by CWI selector?



Carty was given opportunities with TKR....Was Da Silva given such opportunities with CWI by its selecta?

VOR ...your Rebuttal is moot...

St. Lucia Kings won with Auguste as a starter.



Not by Sammy but if 33 tests at 24.72 average is anything to go by Sammy made the right call. Can't trust dungheap as you call it.




Problem is; others complied to.