The rise of Steven Jacobs as Minister of Sports

Dear Editor,
Steven Anthony Jacobs’ elevation to the position of Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is indeed most heartening and welcome in the sports arena. The former senior national cricketer’s ability to lead and work as a team player was recognised at a very early age when he was appointed as captain of the Guyana Under-19 national cricket team.
Minister Jacobs is a former student of the prestigious St Stanislaus College. While at St Stanislaus, he demonstrated his ability to socialise and give leadership to the student population. He managed his academic studies with his sports activities with great success. He studied at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus and obtained a diploma in sports management. He was also the captain of 10 combined colleges and campuses.
In 2007, he was selected to represent Guyana in the National Under-19 cricket team. In the same year his ability to lead was a reality, as he was appointed captain of the national team.
In the 2007 Regional Under-19 Cricket Tournament in St Kitts, Jacobs was nominated as the best “tactical captain” of the tournament. This was augmented with his performance in the field along with the bat and the ball. Steven Jacobs led the team on and off the field with great respect and dignity.
In the one-day tournament, his best bowling performance was when he took three wickets for a mere thirteen (3-13) runs. He was further awarded by the sponsors and declared the best fielder in the tournament. At that very young age Steven Jacobs was awarded Junior Cricketer of the Year by the then prestigious Guyana Cricket Board. This masterful young man was appointed vice-captain of the West Indies Youth Team in 2008. He further demonstrated his leadership qualities with great success in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Youth World Cup in Malaysia. In the World Cup he scored a dashing 101 from 86 balls against Papua New Guinea. While against Ireland, he took three wickets for eighteen runs (3-18). He is the first Guyanese to score a 100 in a World Cup game (under-19).
Minister Jacobs, after playing as a youth player, went on to play in the National Senior team. He represented Guyana as a recognised all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling off-spin. Jacobs was a franchise player for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. He was a member of the senior cricket team and was clearly identified as a team player.
His elevation to the helm as Minister of Sports is indeed most welcome, and his approach to life as an open-minded listener and his vast experience working alongside President Dr Irfaan Ali and his powerful Cabinet team will certainly unite our youths and kaleidoscopic culture through sports to make the “One Guyana” motto a reality.

Yours sincerely,
Neil Kumar