luxury locations issue 21

FEATURE

EYES ON THE PRIZE: HOW ANTIGUA’S CRICKETING ICONS PLAN TO INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF SPORTS STARS T he steely-eyed passion of Vivian Richards, the flamboyant batsmanship of Richie Richardson and the lethal fast-bowling of Curtly that the academy can eventually cater for very young children too. Plans to get it up and running have been several years in the making. The initiative was the brainchild of

Ambrose and Andy Roberts put Antigua and Barbuda on the world map for cricket. So who better to inspire the next generation of players – while bolstering their iconic legacy across the Caribbean – than the twin island nation’s most esteemed sports stars? In April, the distinguished quartet officially launched the Four Knights Academy which aims to mentor and create opportunities for aspiring cricketers. The venture was announced at the finals of the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion, staged – fittingly – at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. The academy is named in honour of the four who are all knighted by the Antiguan and Barbudan government - Richards first in 1999, followed by Ambrose, Richardson and Roberts in 2014. “We love Antigua and Barbuda. We love the Caribbean and we love West Indies cricket,” Richards told the T20 crowd. “We are now ready to make a bigger contribution than we have made in the past, to improve the fortunes of West Indies cricket.” The 71-year-old said his hope is to “make Antigua and Barbuda a centre of excellence for cricket coaching and mentoring, a place where talent can be developed, potential can be realised and dreams become a reality”. Richardson, 61, has expressed his hope

former Sports Minister Chet Greene, who told Luxury Locations Magazine: “The idea is to preserve the legacy of the four knights, create a carve-out for Antigua in regional and international cricket, and contribute to the development and expansion of the West Indies cricket brand.” n

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