Cricket ambassador seeks to promote sport
We’ve recently seen heroes like Marion Jones and Milton Palacio in Belize… and today another sports great visited the jewel… but we’re not sure if his is a household name. Jose Sanchez reports.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Cricket is a sport that thrives throughout the English speaking Caribbean, but the sharp crack of bat and ball is heard primarily in the country’s rural areas. But if the Belize National Cricket Association has its way, the sport of gentlemen will one day be as popular as basketball and football.
Elston Wade, President, BNCA
“Cricket in its glory days was very big in Belize. It was perhaps the number one sport in Belize. We are in the final stage of reviving cricket And we have done, if I say so myself, we have made great strides in reviving the sport of cricket. The BNCA is now a member of the International Cricket Council, the highest body of cricket in the world and we are very proud of that.”
Part of the sport’s revival effort is being coordinated with ICC, which is sending international cricketers such as Gordon Greenidge, as tutors to countries that can use the extra lesson. And today Greenidge, a former West Indies test batsman and coach, began his task with some youths of Wesley High School.
Gordon Greenidge, Ambassador, I.C.C.
“It’s really to do with the I.C.C.’s brainchild to globalize cricket. They’ve looked at all their associate members and I think they’ve decided to get someone to come over to Belize for a few days to work with the Belize National Cricket Association to look at the infrastructure of cricket and how the juniors are playing and what they need to get on track with the hope, I think, to play for the I.C.C. trophy in the near future. I don’t see why not, as Belize is classed as part of the Caribbean. Really, I think the Caribbean, West Indies need to play more of a part in helping to develop neighboring countries.”
Today’s lesson was encouraging for Wesley students who are preparing for a test match with St. John’s College.
Maurice Westby, Vice Capt., Wesley College Cricket Team
“In today’s session I learned a lot of things. Today was really a good time to do this because this Saturday we have a cricket game to play and this really gives us some encouragement, some words to go on to stay in there, keep practicing, learning more.”
Junior Thomas, Jr., Capt., Wesley College Cricket Team
“I think the session was very good, that Mr. Greenidge could have come and spend some time with us and enlighten us on all the different aspects of the game. There are many different ways of how we can approach the game mentally, physically and other ways in which a batsman can be a better player and a better cricketer.”
Gordon Greenidge
“It’s gonna take some time and a lot of hard work. You need to get a lot of things in place in order to meet what would probably be the minimum requirement to play the game at the level of I.C.C. Then there’s another step beyond that which goes on to playing first class cricket and international cricket. It’s gonna take some time, but I don’t see that is going to be a major problem, it’s just how soon we are going to get the infrastructure in place.”
Elston Wade
“Our biggest support is from the rural area, but we have played some games in Belize City and we have been very thankful for the support we have been receiving. Overall, we have been receiving excellent support from fans, but I think we need more support from the business people.”
Survival of any sport depends on players, fans and financiers. Cricket clearly needs more of all three. Reporting for News 5, Jose Sanchez.
This afternoon Greenidge also met with the Governor General Sir Colville Young and Minister of Sports Cordel Hyde to discuss the future of cricket in Belize.
