Batting star keeps feet on ground

Captain of Clarke Rochard Government School, Kitwaroo has scored two centuries in four matches as his school bids to retain their Super League championship title in the 2006 Atlantic LNG National Primary Schools Cricket competition.

Not surprisingly, Kitwaroo has taken the “Man-of-the-Match” award in all four matches he has played so far in the league.

“I am not looking too far ahead. I am taking it one step at a time. My first goal is to make the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 team and then go on to the West Indies Under-15 team. That is my main focus right now,” said Kitwaroo, already captain of the National Under-13 squad.

In the 2006 competition, the right-handed Kitwaroo scored a polished 102 against Montrose Government in the second round, and followed up with a blistering 130 against Diego Martin Boys’ RC in the fourth round.

On top of that, he is also a decent off-spinner, taking crucial wickets in the competition.

Despite his all-rounder status for Clarke Rochard Government, Kitwaroo keeps wicket for the TT Under-13 team.

His coach at Clarke Rochard, Simbhoonath Beepat, makes sure that his young charge keeps his feet on the ground. “He is an intelligent boy who listens to advice. He has a long and bright future ahead of him if he continues on that path,” Beepat noted.

A similar endorsement has come from Kitwaroo’s principal, Juman Ali, who pointed out that his star pupil has performed very well academically, with Mathematics his favourite subject.

“He is a role model for the other students. He is a very level-headed lad and has brought glory to the school,” Ali added.Tony Lewis, president of the National Primary Schools Cricket League, has also hailed Kitwaroo’s performances over the past two years.

“Young Stephen has done exceptionally well so far and he should go on to better things. The Atlantic LNG league is an excellent nursery for our young cricketers and we appreciate the partnership with Atlantic who have already committed to carry on in the future,” said Lewis.

Kitwaroo looks up to West Indies batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan as his cricket idol. “I like the way he bats. He is very attractive and is always going for his shots,” he noted.

A member of the Clarke Rochard “B” team, Kitwaroo practises his cricket every day, even when there is no competition.

“You have to keep practising all the time if you want to improve. I enjoy cricket so I don’t get bored,” said Kitwaroo, who enjoys reading in his spare time and hopes to enter Iere High School when he graduates to secondary school later this year.

He has the full support of his parents, Suraj and Meara Kitwaroo, who encourage their talented son at every turn.

Take note of the name for the future — Stephen Kitwaroo. If he keeps up his exploits, Kitwaroo might well be raising his favourite bat to greater accolades in the future.