Former club cricketer Dharam Raja succumbs to head injury
Dharam Raja (left)
Former Cotton Field and Reliance Sports Club cricketer Dharam Raja died on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at the Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital in Georgetown owing to a head injury.
Raja, who was also an honorary member of Reliance Hustlers Sports Club, is remembered by several past Essequibo cricketers and his nephew Rovendra Mandolall, an ex-Essequibo and Guyana youth player.
On Saturday, March 6, 2021, Raja was doing construction work at his home in Anna Regina Squatting Area and reportedly fell and struck his head.
He was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to Suddie Hospital. The next day he was transferred to the Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital. After five consecutive days in the Emergency Unit, Raja failed to recover and was pronounced dead Thursday morning.
Raja presenting a cash prize that had been sponsored by him to a batsman who made a hundred
According to Hustlers Club Captain and President Travis Simon, the other members are definitely saddened by his passing and are planning to have a bat arc at the funeral set tentatively for today.
“We [are] saddened and shocked at his demise; he was an outstanding individual in a variety of ways since the formation of the club three years ago,” Simon related.
Mandolall, who is currently residing in Canada, stated that his uncle was very helpful in his days as a youth cricketer and he would miss him a lot.
“It is unbelievable at this time; our family in deep grief since learning of his death; he was a die-hard cricket fan and he used to play with us in the street and always liked to bowl at me,” Mandolall shared.
Another former Essequibo and Cotton Field cricketer Denesh Joseph also shared his grief, saying that the game has lost a ‘great man’.
“He was always there at the cricket ground; I can remember him while he was representing Cotton Field playing in club cricket; was always a friendly person, he will definitely be missed,” Joseph declared.
Sunil Lall, a former Captain of Reliance Sports Club, stated that his former teammate was unforgettable when it came to cricket.
“Over the years, Reliance has produced some talented cricketers and Raja is one of them. He always used to speak about cricket every time we caught up and proudly about his two nephews who played for Guyana – Rovendra and the late Shivanandan, may his soul rest in peace,” Lall said.
