A man called ‘Manage’

AT present, he is immobile and itching to get out and run to the savannah. Yet the broken leg he suffered two weeks ago is evidence to show that his love for his community runs deep in the veins of Patrick Rampersad. The executive member of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and president of the Merryboys Cricket Club is the chief cook and bottle-washer in Patna and environs, and he has taken his community into the limelight of the local sporting arena.

Two weeks ago he turned up at the Diego Martin Recreation Ground in the capacity of president of the Diego Martin Football League. Being the hard worker that he is, Rampersad decided to deputise for the fourth official who did not show up for the match. While sitting on the officials bench at the side of the playing field, tragedy struck. He fell off the bench and broke his foot. The foot required surgery which was done last week, and now he is laid up in bed at his home. Speaking to People, Rampersad said: “I am really bored at the moment. I stay in my bed and worry if the football competition is proceeding well. I think that very soon I am going to get off this bed and rush to the savannah where I am really longing to be.” Rampersad has long been touted as a great community builder in Diego Martin. First of all, he started off his community service by representing the Merryboys Cricket Club as an opening batsman. After years in the position, he gave up the game and started to lead the administration of the club. He took the team from being just a good club side to back-to-back national champions in 2002 and 2003.

In making his tenure as president of the club successful, Rampersad has opened up his home as the “club house.” His very supportive wife Cassandra has time and time again assisted the cricketers off the field, and has been a mother figure to most of them. Such is the admiration that Rampersad has earned, he is one of a very few who can go anywhere in Diego Martin at anytime in the night and be safe. The villagers have recognised the efforts of the man dubbed “Manage,” and has shown him tremendous respect when coming in contact with him. An example of the adoration for him is clearly seen in an incident at the place called the “Gazza.” Rampersad drove up to “Gazza” to drop off a young cricketer from the club, after he thought it was too dangerous to let him walk home late at night. A group of men were gathered at a corner and when he slowed down, one of the  them remarked: “Leave that man alone, he is the man called ‘Manage’.”

The humble Rampersad, however, believes he has earned the respect of the community by being friendly to them, and not passing them off. Although he is successful, he will go to the savannah and sit among the villagers and enjoy a good laugh with them. “I am a regular fellow and I keep in touch with my roots. The guys in this area know that they can approach me and we can sit and enjoy each others company.” Before his involvement in administration of cricket, Rampersad was heavily involved in politics and was once a councillor in the Diego Martin area. “For as long as I could remember, I always wanted to do something for my village and I saw the politics as an avenue where I could get help for the villagers.”

Although no longer involved in the politics, Rampersad is still a community man and his two children Daron and Saphirra still have to share daddy with many youths in Diego Martin. When People visited his home, scores of villagers and friends had flocked to his residence to wish him a speedy recovery. As soon as he recovers, he has to take up duties at his Customs Brokerage Firm, lead Merryboys Cricket Club in the capacity of president, manage the Diego Martin Football League, sit with fellow executives of the TTCB to chart the way forward for local cricket, and also help out the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Cricket Board in the capacity of consultant. And after dealing with all of this, he would still beam the most friendly and heart-warming smile possible.