By Clifton Ross
Former West Indies Captain turned talent scout, Floyd Reifer believes Guyana can benefit from the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Scholarship programme; which is geared towards molding more academically-rounded cricketers.
Reifer, who led the West Indies in six Tests and eight One Day International (ODI’s) in 2009, is the current Head Coach of the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) Marooners team and in partnership with the UWI, they have commenced a massive scholarship programme which strictly targets young cricketers from across the Caribbean who currently or intend to pursuit a tertiary level education.
Former West Indies Captain now UWI/CCC Scout Floyd Reifer during his session on Sunday at the DCC Ground
The ex-Barbados skipper arrived in Guyana over the weekend ahead of his four day stay in the country where he’ll be conducting numerous sessions with local cricketers who fit the required scholarship criteria; which foremost targets players who are involved in or pursuing a tertiary academic education.
Reifer told Guyana Times Sport during one of his assessment matches held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground on Sunday, that he was happy to be in Guyana for the first time and was so far impressed with the local talent.
“The University does talent scouting across the Caribbean for our project and for the CCC Regional team as well. We go across the Caribbean Islands and scout for raw talent within the school systems and our qualifications are any of the guys that go to school or university or any tertiary level institution; that’s the first criteria”, Reifer explained.
The former left-arm batsman who has roughly 11,000 runs across all formats of his Regional career, said the scouting initiative was not only driven by the desire to produce more professionally rounded cricketers for the respective West Indies and CCC teams, but to create an environment where education and sport are treated as priorities.
“It’s an opportunity for any young man to be looked at and about carrying forward the vision they might believe in. Young men can have the opportunity to study at a high level with their degree or masters and since our programme started a lot of guys have passed through it, coming in as young players elevating themselves into professional cricketers; but with degrees and maters”.
A former CCC batsman and cousin of current Guyana Jaguars and West Indies all-rounder, Raymond Reifer, Floyd walked away from the game officially in 2016 and has since gotten more active as a scout and coach, travelling the territories teaching the younger generation of cricketers what it takes to be a well-rounded professional.
He said that while was impressed with the little he has seen from his few days in Guyana, he admitted that the players still had a long way to go and he hopes the programme will help to solve those issues, moving forward.
“This is the first time I’m here (in Guyana) so I will be instilling in the guys what it takes to be a professional cricketers, they have the talent but obviously things are lacking like their fitness level and how they prepare. This initiative is for me to highlight to these students what is required to play first class cricket”, He ended.
Reifer will continue his assessment over the next few days with more simulations and practice sessions at various venues, already on the card. He also thanked the University of Guyana for being a part of the drive to unearth the best possible players for the future.
