By Neto Baptiste
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Jeff Miller, has thanked the Antigua and Barbuda public for what he has termed the ‘love and support’ they have shown the franchise in only their second year in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
This after hundreds of spectators turned out in support of the Falcons for their intense clash against the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Tuesday.
“I basically had a three-year plan that this would have occurred maybe in year number three but to have it in year number two is fantastic. Saturday night I stood there and I was in awe when that last over was bowled and the hear the fans [shouting] go Falcons, go Falcons. I didn’t, in my wildest dreams, expected to see that so look, I am vey pleased and proud of the staff we have assembled here in Antigua. These guys have done a fantastic job under the circumstances of coming out of carnival and right before going back to school so I give a lot of credit to my ground staff who are doing an absolutely great job in getting the fans out and getting the awareness of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons,” he said.
Falcons won the contest by eights runs with medium pacer, Shamar Springer, restricting the Knight Riders to just five runs in the final over. The visitors when into the 20th over needing 14 runs to win the contest.
Director of Media Operations, Communications & Strategy with the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Philip Spooner, shared Miller’s sentiments, adding that the atmosphere brought back memories of how the game was once celebrated.
“This is like old-fashioned Antigua cricket and this is how it used to look when Viv played, when Andy played, when Curtly played, Richie, Winston, Kenny, Ridley; those days with Gravy and Mayfield so it’s beginning to feel and comeback to that kind of life and this is what we want. This is what West Indies cricket wants overall. It needs to look and feel like what we are accustomed to and how we celebrate cricket and how we enjoy the game. We don’t sit in the seats and clap with our legs crossed; we get up, we stand up, we jump up, we should, we scream, we sing, we clap, we cheer, we party,” he said.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons host St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Sunday at the same venue starting at 11:00 am.
About The Author
