THE Saint Lucian cricket fraternity and sports enthusiasts are pleased with the initiative that has led to the establishment of the island’s first-ever Cricket High Performance Centre.
According to the stakeholders, “Cricket is a popular sport in Saint Lucia with many athletes playing internationally. As community cricket continues to develop raw talent, an official centre to nurture our budding cricketers is now opened – the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre.”
High performance centres or HPCs are popular in sports all over the world and has become a permanent part of training in cricket over the years. HPCs are established by all major cricketing nations.
For Saint Lucia, the model has been enhanced to include the personal development of the players in a bid to improve their quality of life, and the development of their communities in a holistic way.
President of the Steering Committee for the HPC indicated that the main focus is to establish a top-tier programme which can motivate players to succeed in national, first-class, and international cricket.
The short term plan is to grant players and staff exposure to cutting-edge cricket facilities, technology, and high-quality equipment, and in the long term, the best players in the game.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, “It is refreshing to see the direction our Saint Lucia cricket has taken. As we nurture our talented youth, the future can only get brighter for their budding careers, and we stand firm with them.”
While reiterating those sentiments, Minister for Youth Development and Sports Kenson Casimir lauded the efforts of the entire team working with players. He added that the development at this stage is quintessential to bringing world class cricketers into the West Indies and arenas around the world.
The Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre is supported by the Saint Lucia Kings, the Saint Lucia National Cricket Authority and the National Lotteries Authority.
The players enrolled in the first cohort of the HPC include: McKenny Clarke, Jaden Elibox, Johnnel Eugene, Keon Gaston, Kevin Gassie, Lee John, Noelle Leo, Royce Paul, Stephen Naitram, Tarrique Edward, Tyrel Chicot, Vernilius Gabriel, Akeem Auguste, Zaida James, Selena Ross, and Qiana Joseph.