Source:www.guardian.co.tt
The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has pledged nearly $2.9 million to 33 local cricketers in 2011 as part of its Elite Athletes Assistance Programme (EAAP). This was announced during a ceremony at the Hasely Crawford Stadium’s VIP Lounge yesterday. The players have been divided into four categories (Senior Elite, Elite, Elite Women and Youth) and will benefit from quarterly payments previously reserved for athletes performing in individual Olympic sports like track & field, swimming and cycling. T&T captain Daren Ganga, vice captain Denesh Ramdin, batsman Lendl Simmons and legspinner Dave Mohammed were selected to the Senior Elite class ($120,000 per year) while 16 others were placed in the Elite group ($92,000) (see next page). West Indies women’s captain Melissa Aguillera and off spinner Anisa Mohammed joined five others in the Elite Women category ($72,000) while former West Indies Unde6r 19 allrounders Yannic Cariah and Yanick Ottley were among the six Youths chosen to collect an annual $72,000.
The quarterly payments will enablethe cricketers to meet their daily needs as semi-professional athletes. According to Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts, all the athletes were critically assessed and a shortlist was drafted. The T&T Cricket Board and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) then submitted their recommendations as to which athletes should be included on the EAAP roster. “It’s a fluid system,” said Roberts, “which means you could be in one year and out the next,” hinting at the stringent monitoring and assessment criteria in place.
In this regard Ronald Rogers has been appointed as trainer and will submit periodical reports on the progress of each athlete. In addition to the quarterly payment to the athletes, WIPA has been charged with the responsibility of administering an annual development fund of $500,000 which will go towards the professional and personal development needs of the athletes. In his remarks, WIPA President Dinanath Ramnarine urged the athletes to see “an incentive to train hard, play hard and excel in the game you love.” Minister Roberts also announced that the T&T national men’s team, in advance of their participation in the Airtel Champions League later this year, would benefit from a three-week training camp and practice games against quality opposition. The Minister further called upon corporate T&T to follow the Ministry’s lead and come on board in support of the nation’s athletes.