The 2019 graduating class of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board/Bmobile Academy was given valuable advice on how to become successful by Cricket West Indies representative Amanda Reifer at their passing-out ceremony at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Saturday night.
During the feature address, Reifer, the wife of former West Indies cricketer and coach Floyd Reifer, asked the youngsters to rationalise why only one per cent of the seven billion people on earth are successful and wealthy. She told them that focus, discipline and great awareness we’re some of the attributes that the one per cent had in them.
“As you move forward you must take discipline with you. Work hard, be focussed on what you want to achieve and then the sky is the limit,” Reifer said.
West Indies Under-15 captain Andrew Rambaran was nominated the “Most Disciplined” player at the academy.
TTCB president Azim Bassarath outlined a number of programmes now available to help in cricketers’ development.
“After a period of great anxiety when the administration of the game was under serious attack, we have now entered a new phase of hope and optimism when the future takes on a much brighter look as we step into the new year,” he said.
“Tonight is especially auspicious, as it marks the official graduation of the talented participants in the TTCB/Bmobile Cricket Academy. The youngsters represent the next wave of potential senior national and regional cricketers of whom we are especially proud.”
He thanked Bmobile for its contribution to the academy.
“Although we would have liked for the academy to run over the desired 12 weeks, we are nevertheless appreciative of the tremendous input of Bmobile, which will go a long way in assisting the young cricketers to realise their fullest potential in the coming years.
“During the past weeks, the young men have been preparing tirelessly to not only become better cricketers but also to instil in themselves the rudiments of sound moral and ethical character, patriotism and discipline.”
The participants were exposed to all the facets of team-building, personal and social etiquette, nutrition, teamwork, financial planning, social interaction and media relations by coach Kumar Rampat during the academy.
Bassarath also thanked Naushad Mohammed, Tamara Balram and Ana Gran for their help in ensuring the day-to-day operations of the academy went without any disruption.
2019 Graduating class
Rajiv Ramnath, Damian Joachim, Shiva Sankar, Chadean Raymond, Kyle Roopchand, Liam Mamchan, Lemuel Matthews, Sion Hackett, Justin Jaggessar, Nic Ramlal, Romario King, Jeremiah Cruickshank, Andrew Rambaran, Vanir Maharaj, Anderson Mahase, Shazard Mohammed and Verran Batchu.