The Saint Lucia High Performance Centre (HPC), on Saturday November 02, 2024, at a lavish ceremony held at the Harbor Club Hotel, welcomed its second cohort of players.
It was a major milestone for the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre which was established to serve as an extension for continued work on the numerous youth academies which exist, and as a major bridge between youth and senior cricket. The facility is a specialized one, that not only seeks to develop players to compete and excel at the regional and international level, but also to enhance the Saint Lucian sporting excellence amongst its stakeholders, cricketers and administrators.
Speaking at the ceremony, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Honourable Kenson Casimir, lauded the efforts of the HPC team and the government. He expressed how incredibly proud he was to be part of such a force for good, on the heels of what has truly been Saint Lucia’s golden year in sports.
“It was a no brainer for me being an athlete and representing Saint Lucia in so many different sporting activities and yet, by the age of 25, I decided academia was the best cause of action simply because we didn’t have programmes like an HPC,” Casimir, himself a former national athlete, stated.
He reinforced the commitment of the Government of Saint Lucia to continue to support the development of all sports especially cricket. This investment by the government has already shown results, as Saint Lucia for the first time ever, has 11 semi-professional and professional cricketers.
He urged the players to take this major opportunity seriously and remain driven, “…Take the added step in building mental health and fortitude. Remember, you are not merely going to training, you are going to work.”
The players of Cohort 2 are Theo Edward, Sky LaFeuille, Stephen Abraham, Shawnil Edward, Kensley Paul, Isaiah Jones, Bolton Sayers, Aaron Joseph, and Dornan Edward.
The Cohort 1 players are Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Selena Ross, Tyrel Chicot, Kevin Gassie, Royce Paul, Vernilius Gabriel, Stephen Naitram, Tarrique Edward, Jaden Elibox, Noelle Leo, Keon Gaston, Johnny Eugene, McKenny Clarke, Ackeem Auguste, and Lee John.
The feature speaker was former national player and West Indies alum, Craig Emmanuel who is also the current Chairman of Selectors for the Windward Islands. “The HPC could not be more … timely. Its introduction has coerced the bolstering of Saint Lucia representational membership on the West Indies Under-19 and senior teams. Never has Saint Lucia have so many locals on the Windward Volcanoes (Shadrack Descartes, Keon Gaston, Kimani Melius, Johnnel Eugene and Noelle Leo, while McKenny Clarke and Ackeem Auguste secured contracts with the West Indies Developmental Academy.
“Qiana has found her way once more, and so too has Zaida James and Selena Ross … also, a new torch bearer in Nerissa Crafton … has secured her maroon uniform.”
Casimir added that the best complement to talent is attitude and expressed the need for each player to showcase respect and competence, and they will excel.
Head Coach of the HPC, John Eugene, proudly took a bow as his efforts and that of his team has borne fruit in a truly remarkable way. Like most of the night’s speaker, Eugene is a former player and expressed his joy for such an endeavour, and the elation of being able to not be watching from the side-lines, but actively working with the players.
He stated: “We have made great strides in cricket to see the players with a structure like this and how much they could practice before they leave, brings joy to my heart. The HPC’s achievements have been excellent … nationally and regionally.”
Chairman of the High Performance Centre’s Steering Committee, and President of the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association, Wayne Auguste expressed his thanks to the government, the National Lotteries Authority, parents and coaches for allowing the HPC to achieve such a major milestone. He also encouraged them to strengthen the players with collective commitment, so not only the new cohort can benefit, but the players transitioning from cohort 1 can usurp a role within the cricket fraternity.
Auguste praised the coaches, adding, ‘Your dedication to mentoring our young cricketers is invaluable. Thank you for your passion, commitment and for being a guiding light to take the players on this journey.”
The Saint Lucia High Performance Centre continues to serve as a robust training platform at home, fostering, coaching, and sustaining successful cricket careers, and its programmes are ably supported by the Saint Lucia Kings, the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association, and the National Lotteries Authority.