Practice sessions are now in progress in Anguilla for the NAGICO-sponsored Leeward Islands Cricket Tournament of one-day matches, the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School’s Inter-House Football Competition and the National Bank of Anguilla’s Primary Schools Tournament.

Young cricketers in action

Cricket Development Officer, Cardigan Connor, told The Anguillian at the Ronald Webster Park on Tuesday: “We are preparing for the one-day NAGICO Tournament and this is the first squad now practicing. The sessions have been going on over the last six weeks and, in addition, we are having the players who were in England. These are Chesney Hughes, Jamar Hamilton, Kelbert Walters, Monsin Hodge, Rondel Lake and Lindell Richardson. We have got together as a squad and the players are getting re-acquainted to the understanding of batting together and performing in the bowling partnerships.”

Group of coaches and footballers

The tournament begins on Monday, October 12, in Anguilla when Anguilla will play against Antigua. At the same time St. Maarten will play the British Virgin Islands in St. Maarten; and in St. Kitts, teams from St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and the US Virgin Islands will play their round of matches there.

Coach Colin Johnson (centre) with the Orealia Kelly School footballers

“Hopefully we can be successful enough to make the top 4 and go on to the semi-finals in St. Maarten on Friday (October 16) and win on Sunday, October 18,” Connor added.
Meanwhile, at the Webster Park Football Annex grounds, two teams were engaged in practice sessions. One comprised the Orange House Junior and Senior Boys of the Comprehensive School involved in their first practice. The Inter-House Tournament is expected to commence next month. The coaches include Khalid Brooks, Andre Griffith and Colin Johnson.

Mr. Guishard operating tractor on football playing field

In another area of the field, Colin Johnson was coaching students from the Orealia Kelly Primary School in preparation for the NBA-sponsored Tournament beginning next weekend. “Last year we got a whipping,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we came dead last after having been the champions the year before, so this year we made an effort to come out a little earlier. The squad is actually bigger than this, but I am working on the elite players on one day and on another day with everybody. So far, the fellows look quite well and we expect to do great things this year.”
In the meantime, Raymond Guishard, the hard-working President of the Anguilla Football Association, busied himself leveling top soil at the Football Stadium grounds, repeatedly driving a tractor across the area. The hope now is that rain will fall to grow the required grass covering at the site.

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