Samaan Tree and Friends honour TT U-15 vice-captain

Gajadhar and the TT U-15s will compete at the 2017 Regional Under-15 Championships which takes place next month in Barbados The 14 year old is a top-order batsman and an off-spinner, and will feature for the national team during their defence of the regional title.

“It’s a great honour and a privilege to be selected as the vice-captain of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 team,” Gajadhar said.

“I hope to excel with both bat and ball and, with my additional responsibility of being a vice-captain, I would encourage greater team spirit and togetherness and, hopefully ensure that Trinidad and Tobago retain the Regional Under-15 title.” He added, “I want to encourage many of you to come over and support us.” Gajadhar expressed his gratitude to a number of persons who contributed to his development as a cricketer thus far, including his parents Annette and Ashworth, as well as his sister Ornella.

Delivering the feature address was Daren Ganga, former TT captain and West Indies batsman, and current commentator, who gave Gajadhar some advice.

“You need to develop the right work ethic if you are to be successful in cricket. Success is an attitude.

The same sort of sacrifices you make for the game of cricket and for you achieving success, has to roll over to every aspect of your life,” he said.

Ganga also touched on the state of cricket in TT and, by extension the West Indies, at the grassroots/ developmental level.

“The ones who are interested in the game, we’re not developing them. Then we’re not putting focus on attracting young kids to the game of cricket,” he said.

Ganga pointed out, “I want you, the Aranguez Sports Club, to know that you may be a beacon of hope in Trinidad and Tobago and for you to continue to be an example in this community.” Prominent cricket commentator and TV host, Fazeer Mohammed, also spoke at the function and encouraged Gajadhar to continue striving for excellence.

“What you are seeing here is how much your achievements mean to (the Aranguez residents).

We appreciate how far you have reached but this is just one step.

“We want you to achieve your fullest potential, for yourself, for our community, for Trinidad and Tobago, for the West Indies hopefully.” Also in attendance at the event were master of ceremonies Forbes Persaud, ex-president of the Secondary Schools Cricket League (SSCL); Kelvin Williams, TT Under- 15 assistant team coach; Dinanath Ramnarine, ex-national and West Indies leg-spinner and current chairman of the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago and Tony Harford, businessman and former media practitioner.