National cricketer and newly minted Junior Sportsman of the Year, Jewel Andrew, is hoping that his recent success will serve as a motivating factor for other young players seeking to make a name for themselves in the game.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, Andrew — who came to prominence during the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup held last year in South Africa — said there are many others like him who only need the motivation and opportunity to shine.
“I think that I can also encourage other players and inspire younger players coming up after me, which is something I’ve always wanted to do and not just to be a great player but to also inspire others so that we all could do and I know we all have the potential to. Coming from a small island, it means a lot so it’s just for me to keep doing what I am doing while inspiring others at the same time,” he said.
The Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Pigotts Crushers player, labelled the award as special, adding that it’s a major confidence booster.
“For me, it’s just another milestone in my locker. I know it’s something all young players want to have, so I will cherish it and just keep remembering it so that when I go out it will give me confidence to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he said.
Meanwhile, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA), Leon “Kuma” Rodney, said he was pleasantly surprised the body was adjudged Association of the Year, breaking a three-year winning streak by the Antigua and Barbuda Swimming Federation (ABSF).
“We know how it has gone for a period of time now and I think we have been reasonably well but at the end of the day, you know I am one of those persons who’ve always said we should not do anything for awards, but if it comes then we have to take it. It is always good to do something for reward. On a serious note, I am a bit surprised, and we’re not perfect because we have a lot of things that definitely needs to be cleaned up and so forth. If you look at the amount of cricket that is played, and, as a matter of a fact, I thought we would have gotten Association of the Year as soon as we came out of Covid. If you look back at it you would have known that we would have been pressuring the system all the while to open up for sport,” the cricket boss said.
Track & field athlete, Tyra Fenton was named Junior Sportswoman of the Year while bikini finess athlete, Ambassador Kimberly Percival won a record-breaking third straight and fifth overall Sportswoman of the Year award. West Indies fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph, was crowned Sportsman of the Year for a third time.
The junior winners were both awarded US$20,000 scholarship from the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Committee.
Other Awardees
Mind Sports Person of the Year: Bernard Willock (Draughts)
Coach of the Year: Nelson Molina Fojo (Swimming) – awarded a scholarship to study Sports Management at UWI Five Islands
Sports Official of the Year: Ken Pennyfeather (Football) – also received a scholarship from the Board of Education
Sports Association of the Year: Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association
Special Recognitions:
Women in Sports Awards: Ambassador Melissa Seaforth (Bodybuilding); Shirley George-Benjamin (Netball); Gwen Salmon (Football); Edith Clashing (Swimming); Ambassador Kimberly Percival (again recognized); Team Antigua Island Girls (recognized in absence).
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Charles “Ira” Fabian (Cycling), Victor Parker (Draughts), Steve Williams (Bodybuilding)
Special Gold Medal Team Recognition – OECS Boxing Championships: Uriah DeSilva, T. Henry (Quan Lee Henry), Leon Laura, Omar Brown, Zan Johan.
