Lloyd charges DCC youngsters to aim for national spot

“EYE A POSITION that you wish to fill in the Guyana national team within the next year or two and work towards achieving it. You need to be ambitious.”
Those were words used by former Guyana and West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd, during his feature remarks at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) farewell reception for its youth players who were selected to represent Guyana at the Under-15, 17 and 19 levels this year.The reception was held in the upper pavilion of the club and saw present the club’s president Alfred Mentore, Secretary Seon Greaves, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Ullanda Wiltshire, Coach Garvin Nedd, former Test player Travis Dowlin, parents and special invitees.
Prior to giving his charge, the 69 year old Lloyd who played 110 Test matches for the West Indies and led them for 11 years (1974 to 1985) during which time he had a run of 27 successive Test matches without a defeat, give the honorees a brief history of the Queenstown based DCC.

“The first West Indies Test captain, M.P Fernandes, came out of DCC and we have a street in Queenstown-Crown Street- which I think can be the only street in the world that has produced three Test players.”
He added, “As a young player here at DCC, we were all enthusiastic about playing for this club as it had a very rich tradition with such players in the caliber of Lance Gibbs, Roy Fredericks, Roger Harper and myself, just to name a few and we never had a coach, as your are privilege to have now.
While you are making trips at such a young age, that was something that was never afforded to me until I played for Guyana, while making the West Indies team was a memorable moment for me and it should be an ambitious thing for you too.”

In giving some of his best personal advice to national Under-17 skipper Travis Persaud, Lloyd told the talented all-rounder, “You must give and show respect to your teammates and they will do the same to you and you can even get them to go through wars with you.”
As it relates to the players themselves, Lloyd, who in 1971 was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year and also goes by the call name ‘Supercat’ for his athleticism in the field during his playing days, asked them to be more knowledgeable of the game.
“As players, you must learn to know and read the game and also point out deficiencies to your captain, as it relates to certain players whom you would have played against, while at the same time work on the negative side of your own game hard.

When I look at the game being played today in comparison to other sports, and even at this gesture that is being done here today, you have everything being given to you so all you have to do is get your mind right, apply yourself and play the game” said Lloyd.
“I want to see you win with dignity. Go out there, work hard and whatever you do, do it professionally, applying yourself to the tasks ahead positively. Be professional in everything you do, remembering that fitness is important.
You are representing a club that is full of tradition. It is over 100 years old and amongst one of the oldest clubs in the world, with the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) being the oldest club in the world, so you know of the rich history and talent that walked out these doors and now you are doing the same, do so with pride and dignity” charged Lloyd.