The Alimohameds: A family dreaming for a World Cup hero

By Akeem Greene
Legendary basketball player Michael Jordan once said “just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.” By all accounts the Alimohameds have instilled the same concept into their Windies under-19 player, Ronaldo Alimohamed.
Ronaldo left Guyana on Wednesday, for what is hoped to be close to a month long journey with the regional side at the ICC Youth 50-over World Cup in New Zealand and both his mother, Vanessa and younger brother, Rovaldo along with other relatives are overjoyed and proud of the accomplishments of the young cricketer.

The all-rounder’s road to success was built on a strong support mechanism led by his mother who saw the signs of a future star in the making since his early days in William and Queen Streets, Kitty.
“I am proud he has made the Windies under-19s. Since he was small coming up in cricket I knew he had the potential and all of it comes from his Grandfather [Alfred Alimohammed] and Uncle, a former national player [Ricardo Alimohamed] and we are all proud of what he has accomplished and hopefully he continues on the same path,” the mother of two told Guyana Times Sport.

She added, “He got the love of the game from them [Uncle and Grandfather] since he was small they would have him in the yard bowling or at the ground. Since the age of six [years-old] his uncle and Reon King joined him at [Georgetown Cricket Club] GCC and I am always there to support, if I have to work, I try to go on weekends to watch him play.”
However, it was not all cricket as the Laboratory Technician ensured that the Academy of Precious Ones student remained focused on his academics.
“It was a tough task because if I didn’t have an early hand on it, the cricket would have taken over more of the school and I tried to make sure he has the balance.”
Now that her son is on the ‘big stage’ Vanessa plans on offering even more support as she hopes to see him one day progress to the senior team.
“I am here all the time to give him support as a mother and give him the necessary support to go through the West Indies team.”
Commenting on seeing her son playing in the maroon on television, she giggled and said, “I will be very proud see him there. We have a talented team and I expect them to do well.”
*Role Model*
Likewise, Ravaldo who is already following in his brother’s footsteps by joining GCC stated “I am proud of him 100% and know he will go out and make the family proud.”
“One of my best friends talks good stuff about Ronaldo and says my brother is his role model and he wants to become like him.”
The Richard Ishmael High School student also has eyes set on donning national colours in the next two to three years and possibly the regional youth team.
In Ronaldo’s eyes, his younger brother is vastly improving as cricketer. “I see myself as a role model and he is coming up quite well under my shoulders.”
*Ready for battle*

The defending champions play their first match on January 13 against the hosts and Ronaldo though filled with nerves believes they are ready.
“We are prepared for the world cup, we have been training hard, going through the basics and solidifying some key areas in our game and most importantly to be discipline. I am kind of nervous given what is expected but I know I can hold my own. More so having four other guys from Guyana will help since we all have been playing cricket together for quite some time now.”
Some pundits of the sport have touted the nippy medium pacer and hard-hitting batsman as one of the team’s ‘X-factor’ and it’s a brand that the player plans on embracing.
“I will just go out and play my natural game, stick to the basics and everything should work. The coach [Graeme West] told me keep working on both my batting and bowling and he wants me to play a role similar to Keemo Paul by winning matches for the West Indies U19.”
*Inspiration*
Though an abundance of talent and a strong support base, there was a time the 19 year-old had thoughts of ‘throwing in the towel.’
“Last year during GCB three-day Franchise league I was going through a real rough patch and Christopher Barnwell sat with me and said in your cricket career there will always be a bad patch at some point in time and its lucky you got it when your small. It gave me a lot of confidence since I thought about it and began looking back at cricket videos and gained inspiration.”
The advice worked since this year he was adjudged the Most Promising Player of the League, with an aggregate of 447 runs and 13 wickets playing for West Demerara.
*Digging deep*
Ronaldo is conscious of the stakes at hand and plans not to get flustered in the moment by remember those who have been in his corner supporting and where the love for the sport emanated.
“I will remember my mom since she was would always cheer me on every morning when I leave to go play, she would always say good luck and make runs and take wickets. I plan on making my family and the Caribbean proud.”