Kelly, Kanhai voted ‘Cricketers

WEST INDIES “B” team batsman Aniel Kanhai and former Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 all-rounder Richard Kelly were named joint “Cricketers of the Year” at the 2003 Ceramic Trinidad Merryboys Cricket Club prize distribution ceremony at the Diego Martin Community Centre on Saturday night.

Kelly scored  most runs for the club in 2003, getting 785 which went a long way into helping Merryboys repeat as national champions. Kanhai scored a double century for West Indies “B”  in the Carib Cup and also played some major innings for Merryboys. Minister of Sport Roger Boynes delivered the feature address and praised Merryboys for the work they have done in bringing the Diego Martin community together. He said: “Sport is the major factor when it comes to reducing crime in Trinidad and Tobago and I am really thanking the members and executive of Merryboys Sports Club for the work they have done in bringing the communities together and giving the residents something meaningful to do. “You have done your community proud by being the two-time champions of the national league and I must say you are an inspiration to your community and the country as a whole.”

Merryboys president Patrick Rampersad in his address called on members to be more active and fight against all odds to get a home for the club. He also said  he was in the process of putting together a committee which will be headed by vice-president Michael Carew and coach Charles Galen to look at the club’s development programme and formalise a route for the club to proceed.” Joseph Hadeed managing director of Ceramic Trinidad Limited, the team’s sponsors, made a plea to members to get involved in the running of the club so that the tireless Rampersad could get a chance to take a break. “Patrick has been the live-wire of Merryboys Sports Club for so long and has taken you to the heights of being national champions. “He needs help to do all this. He just cannot do it alone. He is a great man to have as president and we must cherish that fact and hold  him dear to our hearts,” Hadeed said. Ann Browne-John representing the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) said Merryboys are true champions. And she said she felt very close to the team having been involved in what could be called a sister club, Merrygirls Cricket Club. She heaped praises on Rampersad for transforming Merryboys from a village side to national champions, and thanked the club for producing national players at all levels.

Honours roll: Cricketers of the Year: Richard Kelly and Aniel Kanhai
Five Cricketers of the Year: Richard Kelly, Aniel Kanhai, Darren Deonarine, Lincoln Roberts and Mario Belcon
Most Improved Player (youth): Kapil Subran; Most Improved Player (senior): Richard Kelly President’s Award: Don Guzman; Administrator of the Year: Joseph Lewis Highest Run-aggregate: Richard Kelly 785 runs; Highest Wicket-taker: Rajindra Dhanraj Honouree: Harry Ramdhanie.