When Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) skipper Nicholas Pooran and his side walked out against the Barbados Royals in their last preliminary round Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match-up in Barbados last night, one of his side’s biggest fans, Adrian Cudjoe, was watching with a renewed sense of pride in the team.
Born with cerebral palsy, Cudjoe was initially not expected to live past the age of five, according to doctors who diagnosed his condition.
Cerebral palsy, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a group of disorders that affect movement and posture due to brain damage occurring before birth. Symptoms range from mild to severe in infancy or early childhood, and include irregular posture, uncontrolled movements, or unsteady walking.
But at 27 years old, Cudjoe has defied the odds. His resilience is matched only by his passion for sport, especially cricket, although his condition prevents him from playing. Instead, he channels his love into being one of TKR’s most devoted supporters.
That devotion earned him the chance of a lifetime at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, after a relative took him to TKR’s third home game against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on August 30. It was there that Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Phillip Watts noticed his enthusiasm and patriotism among the crowd.
What followed, in Cudjoe’s words, was “an unexpected bonus.”
The Minister arranged VIP tickets for TKR’s next two matches at the stadium (against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Kings) and even sat down with him before the TKR/Patriots clash to talk sport. During that chat, Cudjoe shared his perspective on one of the key challenges facing local athletes, the need to balance full-time careers while preparing for international competitions.
“I didn’t expect the Minister to take time to listen to me, so you know I had to touch on that issue,” Cudjoe said.
“I may not be able to play sports physically, but I’ve been following cricket and football for years, and I think I have an idea of the issues athletes face. I hope the Minister follows through on his promise to ensure national athletes are better taken care of so they can focus on preparing for major events.”
To add to the moment, Minister Watts gifted the young fan an official TKR jersey, making the night even more memorable.
Cudjoe later watched TKR’s final home fixture against the St Lucia Kings from the VIP box, surrounded by family and friends. Now, he’s hoping his team can carry that momentum into the playoffs and lift this year’s CPL trophy.
For Cudjoe, every match is more than just cricket, it’s proof of how far passion, persistence and hope can take you, even against the odds.
