Ever since the National Sports Commission (NSC) issued the list of nominees for the various categories of the National Sport Awards last Wednesday, sports enthusiasts and critics have took to social media to argue about two noticeable omissions. No sports journalist (print) was named by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) for an award, and, surprisingly, the said association decided to nominate Guyana Jaguars Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith ahead of Head Coach Esuan Crandon.
Apart from cricket enthusiasts and critics expressing their concerns about the matter, several journalists have also sought answers for such moves.
However, Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie recently commented under a status posted by Journalist Sean Devers, saying: “I do not usually comment on Facebook, but would make an exception here before perverted opinions get the better of us. Please note that Esau was released by the Cricket Board, with full payment, to take a contract with Warriors as we felt it would help his development as a coach. It should also be noted that Esau was nominated last year by the GCB, for coach at the NSC awards. On this occasion, our technical staff headed by Colin Stuart felt that Rayon’s selection to coach and manage West Indies President Eleven and ‘A’ Squads should give him the nomination.”
He concluded by wishing both coaches well and hoping that we (Guyana Jaguars) could seal the championship early.
His comment, however, raised more eyebrows because Crandon’s performance was better than that of 2015 when he was nominated by the GCB for Coach of the Year. In 2016, Jaguars successfully defended their Regional Four-Day title and reached the semi-final of the Super 50; and as Assistant Coach with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Crandon helped his unit to second place.
During this same period, Griffith was his assistant in the Jaguars squad and inconceivably managed a stint with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for two warm-up matches against the touring Indians as Manager/Coach for the unit, while Henderson Springer filled the role of Coach. West Indies won none of those matches, neither were they outstanding. Later in the year, Griffith toured Sri Lanka with the West Indies A as Assistant Coach to Coach Graeme West and West Indies were beaten 2-1 in the unofficial Test series, while they won the three unofficial ODIs to win that series 3-0.
In addition to Crandon’s improved and outstanding exploits in 2016 as compared to 2015, he led the Jaguars to success, unbeaten.
A source close to the GCB and the WICB informed this publication that the WICB originally sought Crandon for the clash between the touring Indians, but he rejected its offer to fulfil his duties with the Warriors in the CPL.
Under Sanasie’s comment, Territorial Development Officer (TDO) of the GCB, Colin Stuart verified the nomination: “Gentlemen, Guyana Jaguars’ success in the WICB Regional 4-Day PCL within its first three years has largely been made possible through the sterling contributions of Coaches Esuan Crandon and Rayon Griffith – both being able to bring their strengths together for a unified purpose. The nomination of Rayon Griffith for the “NSC Coach of the Year” is due to Rayon’s elevation to assistant coach for the West Indies A team in 2016 during the India tour of West Indies and West Indies A team tour of Sri Lanka. The nomination was “not” merely based on a specific designation – eg head coach or assistant coach but on factors such as their contributions, performances and elevation in the Guyana and West Indies Coaching Development Chain.”
In relation to Stuart’s contribution, I would like to reiterate when Griffith started against India, it was not with the West Indies A and how could an association surpass its head coach for a top nomination which he deserves because its assistant coach was named as an A team assistant coach for just one series in Sri Lanka.
Then one could say there is no regard for Esuan Crandon. The Coach successfully defending the title in 2016 did not matter. His success continues throughout the 2016/2017 season and with two matches to be completed, they are leading all contenders to win the three-peat. I would love Stuart to tell me from all facts he has how could he go for Griffith ahead of Crandon?
The main criteria for the nomination should be performance and Crandon was more successful than Griffith.
To add to the mockery by the GCB, it decided not to name a sport journalist (print) while opting to name one for non-print and online. There must be a reason for this, because almost, if not every day, cricket –whether it is GCB events or otherwise – is featured in the daily newspapers. However, of late, there have been numerous concerns about the manner in which the GCB functions, the poor state of cricket and cricket being in court in Guyana. The talk on social media pointed to victimisation of print media journalists as the sole reason none of them were nominated. If this is untrue, then the GCB should state why it did not nominate any journalist for the NSC Sports Journalist (print) Award.
