Cricket Vibes magazine honours late Under-19 cricketer

TORONTO, Canada – Cricket Vibes, a magazine dedicated to the memory of the late Guyana Under-19 batsman Shivanandan Madholall, had its launching at an impressive ceremony held at the Twilight Restaurant and Bar here last Saturday with his brother Ravendra promising further editions.

The 28-page glossy magazine, a brainchild of Ravendra and his brother Rovendra, also a former Guyana Under-19 player who hails from Essequibo, is intended as a fund-raising effort for the immediate family of the late 30-year-old brother who passed away from a bout of malaria on September 6, 2013. He leaves to mourn his wife and two small children.
Among the features is a tribute to Shivanandan from his former Essequibo Under-19 teammate Clain Williams who was shockingly left out from the Guyana Under-19 side in 1999, the same year his countryman made his debut in Barbados.
Clain now resides in New York and has represented the USA in several International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments.
Williams recalled featuring in an Under-19 trial game with Madholall and smashing 138 while also scoring a few other half-centuries but failed to make the Guyana squad. So impressed was Williams’ partner, he presented his countryman with a bat after the game.
Giving brief remarks at Saturday’s function, president of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) Albert Ramcharran lauded the efforts of the Madholall brothers in making the publication a reality. Ramcharran, whose business places were among the many advertisers in the magazine, disclosed that he was happy to be part of the inaugural publication and pledged his continued support.
Another advertiser, Kim Sue, who is also treasurer of the OSCL also showered praises on the Madholalls while recalling her initial involvement in the sunshine game through her late father Norman Sue, an ardent sponsor of sports in Toronto.
Sue pointed out that she is extremely proud to continue the tradition of her late father. The elder Sue of Norman Sue Bakery fame, passed away last year.
Ravendra Madholall, a former Guyana Chronicle and Guyana Times sports journalist, and who was also editor of the magazine, pointed out in the editorial that he had mixed emotions when he started the project as he never envisaged doing something of the nature for one of his brothers. “I was very excited to make a tangible contribution to the game of cricket in which I am always passionate about.”
Madholall also paid glowing tributes to the advertisers and writers which included former Guyana Chronicle Senior Sports journalist and current freelancer Frederick Halley, former Essequibo Inter-county batsman Raul Khan, ardent West Indies cricket fan Roger Sawh, former Essequibo senior Inter-county batsman Elroy Stephney and former player and administrator Roger Persaud.
Guyana’s Honorary Consul General to Toronto, Sattie Sawh, who was unavoidably absent, pointed out in her message that the consulate always encourages diverse and energetic ways of promoting Guyana and all things Guyanese “and this professionally produced magazine will no doubt help to spread the good name of Guyana in its own way.”
The Consul General extended wishes to the organisers and contributors whose primary motivation was to pay tribute to the late cricketer. According to the top official, “while his loss is saddening, it is important to shed light on a feature of his life and the lives of so many, that was truly important – the wonderful game of cricket.”
Sawh reminisced that “cricket is Guyana’s most popular and passionately followed sport and our nation and the West Indies at large enjoy a proud and rich history of performances on the pitch. This magazine is both a tribute piece and a source of information, and perspectives on the gentleman’s game are timely and will no doubt be well received by fans in Guyana, Canada and elsewhere.”
OSCL secretary Sheri Mohammed and East End Coordinator Vish Jadunauth and secretary/treasurer Bobby Ramlagan were among others present at Saturday’s launching which also included a few of the advertisers.

(By Frederick Halley)
guyanachronicle.com

no.  bg is persaud