Ramlal faces strong challenge in North East

THE ELECTION race in the North East Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has intensified with Raffie David emerging as a strong candidate to challenge the incumbent chairman Arjune Ramlal.

David is a long-serving member of the zone representing Cunaripo Sports Club for over 20 years as well as being a former member of the North East Zonal council, TTCB certified coach and former captain of the North East team.

He revealed that the state of cricket in the North East was the main reason why he decided to run for chairman of the North East Zone.

“The state of cricket in the North East is poor with the game dying in the area. What is even more cause for concern is the drop in the standard of play.

“When I use to play cricket the matches were keenly contested with the crowds coming out to watch the game and support the players.

“Now when you go to see a match there are no spectators, no umpires and you can see the lack of enthusiasm in the cricket being played” said David.

He explained that teams show up to play without 11 players and the interest of the game is dying in the North East.

David had been away from the game in the North East due to job commitments but has heeded the call of the clubs and various stakeholders in the North East to return and rescue the zone from its demise.

“Cricket in the North East needs to be rejuvenated. There is more to the administrative process than having meetings and planning fixtures” said David.

The former North East captain explained that his plans for the North East includes improving the prize money, improving the grounds and facilities, getting official umpires to games and establishing a youth coaching programme catering to all areas in the North East.

“The prize money for winning the zonal competition is $2,500 with windball cricket offering more financial incentive. There needs to be a cash injection because cricket is not a cheap sport to play.

“The regional corporation needs to be incorporated more to improve the grounds. I have attended matches and seen players from teams umpiring matches and we need to get away from this if we are to improve cricket in the North East,” said David.

He said there are many talented players in the zone and while conducting coaching sessions for Moosai’s Sports Cricket Club he had over 60 children between the ages of six and 16 showing up for sessions.

David stressed that the youths were the future of cricket in the North East and they needed to be catered for to ensure that cricket is revived in the zone.

He explained that there are talks to have a coaching caravan to areas such a s Plum Mitan, Toco and Tamana which are traditionally neglected due to their distance but produces high quality players.

Kern Ramlochan
T&T Newsday