Piparo cricketers call out for help

Piparo is infamous as the hometown of the deceased Dole Chadee who was hanged with members of his gang for murder. It is also well-known for the mud volcano that erupted several years ago. However a group called Young Lions Cricket Club is trying hard to make a breakthrough in sport for youngsters of the central district near Gasparillo in South Trinidad. Young Lions play at a facility just a few hundred yards from where Chadee lived and although they have found a godfather in the name of Mozamil Mohamdally, they are still in need of help. The ambitious cricketers aim to fix their home ground so that they can be competitive in the South Zonal Council Division One competition.

Mohamdally, affectionately called “Miller” gave a tour of the facility recently. “This ground has come a long way since last season but we are still unable to stage cricket because we need help from the authorities,” he said. It is understood that Miller forked out $30,000 from his pocket to enlarge the playing area, buying landfill and completely filling a ravine that was next to the ground. The water course was diverted in order to extend the playing area on the eastern side of the ground. After the filling took place the regional corporation councillor of the area was notified and he tried to get the ground graded. However the Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation did not have a grader available. Miller then contacted executive member of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC), Azim Bassarath who was able send a grader from the Princes Town Regional Corporation to do the job.

“We got the grader to come in and give the ground the preliminary work but we need another bit grading.  We must get the entire outfield rolled in order the have the ground in good playing condition,” he said. At present the cricketers play on a matting turf on the ground which so far has cost $3,000 to develop with funds coming from Miller. But the team has not been able to use it competitively as they cannot host any home matches.  “A member of our club, Reynold Siewdass, is in charge of scheduling matches for the South Zone and out of principle he cannot put any matches here due to the state of the ground.

As a result we cannot even practise at the ground and this has us sitting in the bottom half of the league table,” Miller said. “We have also lost some players who need to practise during the week and saw it fit to play with other clubs,” he lamented. Miller, is a respected member of Piparo in a community trying to rid itself of the reputation of being a haven for  drugs. He  promised to do all he can to have the ground ready but still needs help from the authorities. “We love cricket in this area and we are going to do all we can to get the ground ready for cricket probably by next year. Maybe the Government can get involved in helping us, as they have been promoting sports as an alternative to crime and drugs,” he said.