By Neto Baptiste
Some 12 years after the idea was first introduced by then sports minister EP Chet Greene, the Four Knights Academy concept remains on the cards despite mounting doubts the idea will ever become reality.
First announced in 2014 by the then newly-elected Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate, the Four Knights Academy was conceptualised using four of the country’s former international cricketers, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Richie Richardson and Sir Curtly Ambrose.
The academy, according to initial reports, would have first catered for the top young talents here in Antigua before branching out to the region and then internationally.
But progress has been slow to stagnant, with very little to no positive news regarding forward movement where it pertains to the setting up and running of the academy.
Sir Viv, speaking recently on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, said he has not lost hope and that efforts are still being made to bring things together.
“No man, I don’t think so because you don’t give up on anything. Maybe it’s a trend around here in terms of we take a little time to get there. There’s a whole lot of promises and stuff like that, that you keep waiting on. I guess folks have their other interests until maybe they find time to have an input. But certainly, there’s the outlets out there in order to get the sort of substance that we need in order for us to get this thing started but I never give up on anything. It’s like the individual who just died recently, Jesse Jackson; he had a famous phrase, let’s keep hope alive,” Sir Viv said.
In 2023, Sir Richie was hopeful for positive movement by the end of that year, revealing that talks were ongoing with Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the government of Antigua and Barbuda regarding a possible partnership moving forward.
A re-launch of the Four Knights Academy was held following the third-place match between Pigotts Crushers and Bolans Blasters in the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in 2023.
In 2018 it was announced that the four knighted cricketers would take full control of the project.
