Daniel Singh challenges CSCC members on way forward

…Akeel

Mohammed steals spotlight at presentation

SENIOR umpire Daniel Singh has complimented Caribbean Stars Cricket Club (CSCC) for an encouraging and successful 2022, in both the Toronto District Cricket Association (TDCA), and the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA).

Giving the feature address at the Club’s annual trophy presentation, dinner and dance, held recently in Toronto, Singh, a West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) qualified umpire, however, challenged the members as to “where does the club go from here, and how do you chart the next steps.”

Giving an insight into his own strides in the field of coaching when he was a Development Officer as part of the West Indies ScotiaBank-sponsored Kiddy Cricket Programme before he started his umpiring courses, Singh pointed out that there were two important guiding principles he learnt as part of the training for team meetings.

“The first principle is to spend more time encouraging and praising performance, rather than focusing too much on errors. The second is to never criticise a player’s performance in front of his/her teammates, whether face-to-face or group messaging,” he said.

Singh, who was also a journalist at the Guyana Chronicle in the 1990s before migrating, advised that “when coaches highlight errors in front of teammates, it is the worst thing they could do to anyone’s sense of self-worth and self-confidence.

“Often,” he said, “these coaches think that creating fear by public scrutiny would make better players, but they were wrong.

“Alternatively, there is nothing better for a player’s confidence when a coach praises the performance in front of teammates; it gives credibility amongst peers, and makes players feel like they are adding value to the greater team cause. Most importantly, it makes players want to give their best for their coach.”

According to Singh, “in addition, be extremely mindful to use the right tone and language when facilitating a debrief of a team or an individual player’s performance. Naturally, in every match, there are errors and mistakes.

“Players are human beings; not performance tools or machines, and they will make mistakes. This is what makes running a cricket club, or any coaching such a skillful practice.

“How we choose to respond is vital to our credibility and quality as a leader in the club. We must never forget we are training and leading the person; not the position the player holds in the team.”

Singh also told the players not to make any unnecessary comparisons with other players, as this is a kind of back-handed criticism. “We know the experience of Darren Bravo being compared to Lara and Ricardo Powell being called the next Viv. None ever happened.”

“I hope you note what the cricketing pundits and fans are doing with Tage Chanderpaul in comparing him with his father. Let us hope the same does not become of him.

“It is fine to want to perform like a great player, but do not make the person or the style as the standard; make performance the standard.”

Trinidadian Akeel Mohammed stole the spotlight, scoring

Nandu with 273 runs and 26-yearold Kemol Savory with 269 runs.

The 23-year-old Sinclair scored 285 runs to add to his 18 wickets, and Johnson said he had been pleased with the development of the younger players during the course of the championship.

“One of the great things about the season was the progress made by the young players in the team,” the left-handed noted.

“At various times, they stood up with major performances and that was great to see. We made progress. Also, tribute to the senior players who also led from the front, offered invaluable advice and made my job as captain easier on and off the field.

“Thanks to the fans and all those persons who backed us from start to finish.

“As a proud Guyanese, I retire from the game lifting this prestigious trophy and also happy that I can bring smiles to the faces of the supporters.”

WIPA hails Harpy Eagles ‘dominant’ title capture

most runs in the TDCA (263), and the SCA (535) to cop the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards for both leagues. He also registered a century in the SCA Elite Division, while claiming a five-wicket haul.

Other outstanding performers in the TDCA were Moonasar Mahadeo (22 wickets), which included five in one game; Jermylee Barnett (five wickets in a match); Navindra Nauth (most catches, 13) and best fielder. Trushil Patel was the MVP of the semi-final.

In the SCA, Patel and Nicholas Ali took 20 wickets each, while there were centuries for Mario Belcon and Nauth. Patel and Mohammed had five-wicket hauls, while Nauth was again in the limelight with the most catches (11), and got the nod for the best fielder. The most disciplined player award went to Jonhatan Singh. (Frederick Halley)

Harpy Eagles, led by captain Leon Johnson, defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 17 runs on a dramatic final morning of the decisive final round at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday, to clinch the sixth title of the professional era but first in three seasons.

The conquest was especially significant as Johnson was playing his final first class match after announcing his intention to retire mid-way during the campaign.

“WIPA whole-heartedly congratulates the Guyana Harpy Eagles on a dominant performance throughout the tournament and lifting the title,” said president and CEO, Wavell Hinds.

“Additionally, WIPA salutes captain Leon Johnson on a successful career at his retirement from first-class cricket and we wish him continued success for the future.”

Harpy Eagles ended with 84 points, 10.2 clear of Windward Islands Volcanoes who trounced Barbados Pride by 121 runs at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, also on Saturday’s final day.

Pride, who were seeking a hat-trick of titles, finished third on 55.6 points after suffering their third defeat of the season, while Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were fourth on 49.4 following their resounding nine-wicket victory over winless bottom-of-the-table Jamaica Scorpions at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.

Hurricanes were fifth on 46.2 while Scorpions were last on 25.6.