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By Neto Baptiste
Former West Indies captain, Sir Richard ‘Richie’ Richardson, is yet to be formally appointed Commissioner of Sports, some seven months after it was first announced that he would assume the role.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, the former batsman who amassed 5949 runs in 86 Tests, said he has had “no further communication” with government regarding the role but admitted this could be due to his recent hectic travel schedule as an Elite ICC Match Referee.
“There has been no communication where that is concerned as yet or further communication. It [the offer] was made and I accepted and so it is just a matter of finalizing it but I’ve been traveling a lot and that is one of the problems where I am mostly out of Antigua so I just have to wait and see what happens,” he said.
In a press release issued early in September of 2024, the government said “the appointment is a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s sporting infrastructure and enhance the development of sports in Antigua and Barbuda”.
Despite his usually packed scheduled, the Antiguan believes he can effectively perform the duties.
“It will not be easy but in today’s world with all the technology, we are able to communicate with persons online virtually. We have email, WhatsApp, Zoom and all these different mediums we can use to communicate. Of course, there are certain things you’d have to do in person and once I am here in Antigua, then I would operate that way in terms of meeting with people and doing what I have to do,” Sir Richie said.
In March, it was announced that renowned sports journalist and administrator, Joel Rayne, would be appointed Sir Richie’s Deputy. The announcement followed Rayne’s unsuccessful bid to become the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate for the St George constituency after he was beaten by Michael Freeland in a primary.
Questioned about the Four Knights Cricket Academy concept and efforts to bring it into reality, Sir Richie said the project is at a standstill.
“It is still pretty stagnant at this time; nothing is happening and that’s all I will say. We’ve worked hard and put a lot of things in place; we put a company in place and forming an account but it’s just to really get it going. We need a driver, we need some assistance and of course we need funding to get it going and we just have not really been making any headway,” he said.
A re-launch of the Four Knights Cricket Academy was announced in 2023 and took place during the finals of the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
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