Rampersad knocks senior cricketers

President of Merryboys Cricket Club, Patrick Rampersad has waded into the senior national cricketers during a feature address at Lengua, south Trinidad on Saturday.

Rampersad was at the time addressing players and members of the Valleyboys Cricket Club during their 46th annual prize giving ceremony at the Lengua Civic Centre, Princes Town. In an attempt to explain to his audience why the junior national teams were successful and not the seniors, the highly respected Rampersad said: “When these guys reach a certain stage and get a few pictures in the newspapers and see themselves on television they get too big for  themselves. They stop being focused and the problem arises with discipline. “I am asking all the youths present here today to take a keen interest in your development and don’t get swell-headed, as your career may be very short.”

Rampersad also mapped out a development course for the club and asked the executive to prepare a three to five-year plan. “You must ask the question if you are happy wih the level of cricket you are playing right now. If you are not happy with that, then ask yourselves what you can do to improve your standing in domestic cricket. “After this sit down with the members and map a course that would take you to the next level,” Rampersad suggested. During the 2003 season, Valleyboys finished third in the Southern Superleague. Rampersad asked the club membership to embrace the community as their partner. “This is no idle boast but Merryboys Cricket Club have the largest following in domestic cricket today. This did not come about just so, it was an effort by the management of the club who had a development route mapped out,” he said.

Merryboys are the National League Division One champions. The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) executive member also called on Valleyboys to offer scholarships to the young children in the area as this will bring parents and children into the fold of the club. Also addressing the gathering was home-town boy and Member of  Parliament for the area Subhas Panday. He congatulated Rampersad for an excellent feature address and called on his fellow villagers to follow the lead of Merryboys to get ahead. He lamented the fact that without discipline a cricketer can reach nowhere and called on the elders in the club to nurse the youths. Panday also took a swipe at the Princes Town Regional Corporation and called on two councillors present to made proper representation for better facilities in and around Princes Town. Former assistant secretary of the club, Vishnu Tikasingh, a former chairman of the then Caroni County Council was also on hand to present greetings and brought more than the club bargained for. “I am here today for a specific reason and I told no one about it before. Well recently I acquired about three acres of land in this area and I am willing to donate this lot of land where the Civic Centre is for my fellow villagers,” Tikasingh said.

President of the club Frankie Khan who came in for tremendous praise during the function from all speakers donated $500 to begin a youth development programme. Meanwhile the Singh family dominated the awards function by winning nearly every prize that was up for grabs. The Valleyboys Club, made famous for producing former Trinidad and Tobago and Indian international player Robin Singh, is one of the oldest clubs in the area and have a heavy input of his family on their roster. His brother Rajendra Singh won the “Cricketer of the Year” award, while his other family members Indesh and Videsh were among the “Five Cricketers of the Year.” Vallelyboys Honour Roll Five Cricketers of the Year: Rajendra Singh, Indesh Singh, Videsh Singh, Lindwall Anamalee and Sunil Maraj. Cricketer of the Year: Rajendra Singh. Most Promising Player: Zaffar Ali. Club Member of the Year: Munroe Dinoo.