Ramkeesoon calls for fit umpires

TRINIDAD and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCB) 1st vice-president  Dudnath Ramkeesoon called on all umpires to take their physical fitness programmes seriously in order to be better officials. Ramkeesoon was speaking at the 2004 Trinidad and Tobago Umpires Council (TTUC) seminar at Presentation College, Chaguanas, on Sunday last. He said: “In order to be a good umpire you must be physically fit. “Although you don’t have to run throughout the match as a football referee, you still need to be physically fit. When you are fit your attention span is greater and you tend not to miss a ball. “You are able to adjudicate to the best of your ability and cricket is all the better for it.” Ramkeesoon also urged umpires to develop themselves and make sure that they have a sound knowledge of the game. “It will not hurt to do refresher courses in order to keep yourself on top of your game. You must never lose passion for the game and you will always progress. “You all belong to the TTUC team and you must work together in order to raise the standard of umpiring in this country. We have some very good officials and I would like to see more of you attaining such status very soon,” Ramkeesoon said.

He said: “One thing I must add is that as umpires you must have a pleasant personality. No matter what the players dish out to you, it is important that you stay focused and keep your mind on the game. “Be pleasant to the players and you would get the desired respect from them.” TTUC president Clarence Shaffrali promised to release a better group of officials on the domestic circuit this year. TTUC executive committee: President Clarence Shaffrali; vice-president Lalman Kowlessar; secretary Kasso Dowlath; asst-secretaries Farouk Hosein and Alfred Paul; Treasurer Harold Ramjattan. Training and examination committee: Clyde Cumberbatch, chairman; Franklyn Blaize, secretary; Lalman Kowlessar, Priamnath Deobarran, Debbie James-Joseph. Appointments committee: Clarence Shaffrali, chairman; Walter Wight, Bert Legere, Lalman Kowlessar, Farouk Ali, Sadick Mohammed.