Hard work brings fame, fortune

PERSONS who have achieved national and international fame and recognition have done so by sheer hard work and commitment. “Personalities like Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke, Stephen Ames, George Bovell, Kertson Manswell, Candice Scott and Cleopatra Borel  have become famous because they were prepared to put in the extra effort required to take them to the top as raw talent alone will never do it,” said Wendy Alleyne, Senior Brands Manager of Prestige Holdings. At the time Alleyne was speaking at the 2005 presentation function of the KFC sponsored Under-13 cricket competition at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre on Thursday. This is the seventh year that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) organised tournament has been successfully concluded.

The sponsors, Prestige Holdings, inject $30,000 annually in the exercise and promise to continue in partnership with the TTCB. “KFC will  walk hand in hand with the TTCB as you strive to facilitate the development of the great sport of cricket through our twin-island Republic,” Alleyne said. The tournament, which featured five zones — North, Central, South, North East and South East —  was won by Snack Pack South East, with Central Crunchers runners-up. Most Valuable Players were  Daron Davis (North), Yaniick Cariah (North East), Videsh Sookhai (Central), Stephen Katwaroo (South) and Darron Beekha (South East). Alleyne said that KFC were proud to be associated with the competition and the TTCB.

“We know that several young cricketers who have passed through the Under-13 category  have gone on to distinguish themselves playing for Trinidad and Tobago in the regional Under-15 tournament which TT won four times in six years. This is clear evidence of what all of you gathered here today can achieve if you apply yourselves and put in the hard work that is required for success,” the KFC official stated. Dudnath Ramkessoon, first vice president of the cricket board, thanked the parents for their support. “You are all aware of the board’s developmental thrust which apart from upgrading cricketing skills helps young people to become disciplined citizens as we also promote programmes of mental preparedness alongside that is of tremendous value to the child as he grows up,” Ramkessoon said.

The former West Indies youth team captain said that the TTCB not only promotes cricket but helps in the process of nation building. Ramkessoon said that the youngsters who take part in the Under-13 competition had opportunities to improve themselves as in other tournaments for the Under-15s, Under-17s, Under -19s and Under-21s. “They then can aim to go on to the national team and eventually on to the West Indies team, but this all depends on your sense of commitment and dedication to reach the top,” he told the youngsters.

Ramkessoon appealed to parents to help keep their children well-focused on the positives in society as there were too many distractions around that will tempt them onto other fields. He spoke of Dwane Bravo’s entry into the West Indies team at a young an age.  “If you take the game seriously you too, can do it,” he said. “Others could say what they want, but as a board we know that we are on the right track as far as youth cricket developmental plans are concerned,” the first vice president said.