Chaguanas spinner cops PowerGen award

Former West Indies Under-15 spinner and captain of Presentation College Chaguanas, Kavesh Kantasingh was named the PowerGen Secondary School “Cricketer of the Year” at the 2004 prize-giving ceremony at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre on Friday night. Kantasingh, who led his school to the league title was also given a PowerGen scholarship worth $5,000 to further his education in a field of his choice. Also receiving a similar award was Jason Mohammed, one of the five “Cricketers of the Year.” Mohammed took Barrackpore to the Intercol title and was very consistent with both bat and ball during the season. The right-hander who plays for PowerGen Sports was a former national Under-15 captain.

The other three cricketers of the year were Timmothy Surujbally, Manor Sirju and Samuel Felix of Tranquillity Government Secondary. Joy Ramlogan, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at PowerGen delivered the feature address to the large audience and was in a no nonsense mood. She traced the history of West Indies cricket and told the youngsters that what’s lacking in the Caribbean cricketer today are discipline, passion and pride. “When you look around at the cricketers today you find it difficult to comprehend what is really going on in their minds. They lack passion for the game and play without pride at times. I am asking you all to delve into the history of West Indies cricket and get a feel of the proud cricketing tradition that existed in the Caribbean. When you do this you would go out unto the cricket fields knowing that you would be defending something special,” he said.  

“I am asking you all to take this opportunity afforded you by PowerGen and the Secondary Schools  Cricket Council (SSCC) and make the best use of it. Always remember that discipline is what is going to take you forward, so always remember this is the key word,” Ramlogan. PowerGen’s Corporate Communications Manager, Omar Khan said that PowerGen by investing in the youths through sport, is really doing service to the country and preparing the kids for a better future. “This is our eight consecutive year in sponsoring the Secondary Schools cricket league and we will continue as we see this as very important in building a better future for the kids. We see the league as being essential in character building and it is the hope of the company that by investing in the kids a better Trinidad and Tobago would result in the future,” Khan said.

“We at PowerGen are very pleased with the progress of the Secondary Schools Cricket League, when we got on board it incorporated about 2,000 students, now it has increased to 120 schools and over 5,000 students,” he said. Meanwhile Second vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Baldath Mahabir in his address called on the government to give ten percent of its scholarships to youths who are academically qualified but have excelled in the field of sports and culture. Ashwin Creed from the Ministry of Education revealed that very soon physical education will be incorporated into the school curriculum as a CXC subject.

POWERGEN SSCC 2004 HONOUR ROLL
Cricketer of the Year: Kavesh Kantsingh.
Five Cricketers of the Year: Kavesh Kantasingh, Timmothy Surujbally, Samuel Felix, Jason Mohammed and Manoj Sirju.
Scholarship winners: Kavesh Kantasingh and Jason Mohammed.