Uncle Lester reaches 123 Tests in 50 years

On a hazy January morning way back in 1953, Lester Armoogam left his home at Claxton Bay to witness his first Test match between West Indies and India. Little did he know that 50 years down the road he would have seen 123 Test matches.

The 63-year-old Armoogam a successful contractor from Claxton Bay is one of the most ardent West Indies cricket fans of the game in the region. Armoogam remembered his first game: “At that time I was just 13 years old and was more curious than anything to see a Test match and all the stars of the West Indies and Indian teams. I was very excited that morning to visit and Oval and when I reached into the ground I fell in love with cricket and the relationship has just grown stronger and stronger every passing Test match.” “That excitement that I felt on the morning of the match still remains with me up until now and I felt that same way during the last Test match I saw between the West Indies and Sri Lanka at St Lucia.

Armoogam has visited all the Test playing countries except Bangladesh but will put that to rest as soon as the West Indies makes a Test tour to that part of the world. The affable Armoogam missed the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup finals earlier this year in South Africa saying that he was more willing to visit at the end of the year when the West Indies will play five Tests against South Africa. “One day cricket is great but for me the Test match is the ultimate form of the game. I will prefer to take in a Test match anytime in rather than a one day international.” Armoogam is happily married to Jean the sister of former Trinidad and Tobago player Chiki Sampath. They met at church in Tunapuna 43 years ago and have been together ever since. Jean makes some of the trips with Armoogam and her presence on a long overseas tour is a thrill to West Indian cricketers. On these trips, Jean usually prepares home cooked meals for the players who visit their hotel to take in the feast.

Armoogam is especially close to Guyanese batting maestro Shivnarine Chanderpaul who was spotted from an early age. The well off Armoogam started sending cricket equipment for the left hander from the tender age of 13. Up to this day they maintain a very close relationship and when Chanderpaul is in Trinidad he regularly visits Lester. Armoogam said whenever he leaves home he never feels lost. “I am treated first class by the West Indies players when I show up on tour. They are always checking out for me, finding out whether everything is fine with me. This is the relationship I have with the players and when they see me on tour they are happy.” Due to his extensive travel Armoogam has also made friends with players from opposing teams. “Players from opposing teams know me well and I have made friends with a good few of them. I love cricket and when I am around the artists of the game, I feel very fulfilled.”

Armoogam also threw in his piece on the pending election of a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president: “I am not happy about the way the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) handled the matter concerning Willie Rodriguez. They should have supported the local boy and Lequay as the Chief Executive officer (CEO) should have done some research on Chetram Singh. Now don’t get me wrong, Chetty and I are personal friends but Lequay should have checked to see whether his ownership of a racing pool would have affected his functions as president of the West Indies Board.” Armoogam was also very confident that the West Indies team would perform well on their upcoming tours. “That man Brian Lara is a model to the world. He has come back in as captain and shown what he is really made of and this must be recognised. This man will lead West Indies cricket unto greater things and we will all rejoice.” These days Armoogam is just sitting by anxiously waiting for when play is called for the tour of Zimbabwe.