Bravo is Parkites top sportsman

TRINIDAD and Tobago allrounder Dwayne Bravo is  the “Sportsman of the Year’” of Queen’s Park Cricket Club 2003. His award was announced on Friday night at the club’s  prize distribution  ceremony at Crowne Plaza. The youthful right hander who scored 992 runs this season and took 16 wickets in the Carib Beer series won the award ahead of other top achievers in hockey, tennis, football and squash. It was a double of sorts for Bravo who was also the top Parkites sportsman last year. “Footballer of the Year” went to Seko Kufiji, while Hockey Player of the Year was Ronald DeSilva. The top squash player was Paul Jerome De Verteuil. Chairman of the West Indies World Cup Organising Committee Chris Dehring, delivering  the feature address,  made some startling revelations about World Cup 2007 to be staged in the West Indies.

He told  the gathering that if for example the Oval holds 20,000 fans, then only 1,000 tickets will be made available to fans from Trinidad and Tobago. “When you gave us your venue, it is ours, we take it over and run the game  according to standards set out by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “We will be circulating a bid book to all the countries in the Caribbean and once you can meet the World Class Standards, then games will be assigned to you. “We don’t want to be embarrassed at all at this World Cup and if any one fails to deliver, then it would flop. We need at least eight venues to host  the World Cup and if we cannot come up with this number we will have to give back the World Cup. “Trinidad and Tobago is the richest country in the Caribbean and we are all looking forward to you taking a lead role. It is your responsibility to ensure that you take a game so that this thing becomes reality. If you don’t come through then the World Cup dream is over.” Dehring also revealed that he met with the government of Trinidad and Tobago two weeks ago and they are very interested in helping to make this the best event ever staged in the Caribbean.

He also warned cricket authorities that there will be an influx of fans to the game and hence they must cater for this. “Take for example India, when they play there is a large following. There are over 20 million Indians living in North America and it would just take them a few hundred dollars to get to the games. So expect a lot of fans turning out.” Dehring closed off by saying: “Queen’s Park you are the most successful cricket club in the Caribbean and lets hope you make every effort to get some games at the Oval.” Honour roll:  Sportsman of the Year: Dwayne Bravo; Cricketer of the Year: Dwayne Bravo.Hockey Player of the Year: Ronald DeSilva; Tennis Player of the Year: Dean Ogiste. Football Player of the Year: Seko Kufiji; Squash Player of the Year: Paul J De Verteuil. Kingston Trophy winner: Richard Neives; Youth Cricketer of the Year: Jonathan Augustus;  Phil Thompson Cricketer of the Year: Shastri Samaroo.