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An innings well played, 'Wagga'
published: Wednesday | October 31, 2007
IN THIS life they say two things are guaranteed - taxes and death.
Last Friday marked the sudden passing of a good man, David 'Wagga' Hunt, who collapsed in his bathroom, succumbing to heart failure as he was preparing himself for football duties with his Manning Cup team, Calabar High, which was slated to play Edith Dalton James later in the day.
He had led the school to the Manning Cup title two seasons ago, breaking a 28-year drought, the semis last season and up to Friday, second spot in their preliminary group - which they went on to win by beating Edith Dalton on Saturday in the duly postponed match.
As a mark of respect, the Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) postponed its season-opening schedule on Saturday. Hunt was also a member of the KSAFA executive, serving as its general secretary and founded, coached and had been running one of its participating clubs, Meadhaven United, that had won a number of both junior and senior titles along the way.
Hunt, an ardent and passionate student of the sport, also coached the national Under-17 football team, which missed out on qualification to the Youth World Cup Finals earlier this year, and even before he was named on the national panel, funded his way to the World Cup finals in which Jamaica participated.
There Hunt, whom I've know since boyhood days when I also grew up in Meadowbrook and played ball - much of it Corner League for juveniles in the area at 'Bottom' Field' on Michigan Avenue and sometimes Roehampton Park - would be keen to share the most minute of details on not only football but any other topic of discussion.
Knowledgeable
A Kingston College old boy, he was deeply knowledgeable and was responsible for the production of the annual Champs magazine, that included the programme, predictions and other important information related to the stellar schools track and field event.
Form this column, sincere condolences to his wife, Georgette, and eight-month-old daughter, Amira, other relatives, close friends, associates and well-wishers.
A truly good man and servant of the sport of football has completed his innings. Well played.
For another national team, and sport - cricket, the same two words apply perfectly to their recent exploits in the regional KFC Cup one-day tournament.
Since 1999 when Courtney Walsh led Jamaica to the one-day crown, this country had not won another title in the West Indies senior competition and on Sunday, the Chris Gayle-led team beat last year's double champions Trinidad and Tobago by a comfortable 28-run margin in the final in Barbados.
The team went unbeaten throughout, scoring relatively easy wins over the Leeward Islands, the regional Under-19 team and a Barbados team with West Indies pacers Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards and Pedro Collins. In the semi-finals the team disposed of Guyana in an abbreviated match - 43 overs - due to rain; before scoring 230 and dispatching Trinidad and Tobago in the final.
Victory justified the selectors' decision to appoint Gayle as captain ahead of Tamar Lambert, a move which drew a fair bit of criticisms.
Much of the arguments stemmed from the fact that Jamaica have generally gotten good results with Lambert as captain and Gayle's lack of experience as a skipper.
Leadership qualities
If anything, what the team's victory under Gayle has served to highlight is his leadership qualities. Recently, while the West Indies toured England, the left-hander was given the reins after Ramnaresh Sarwan got injured and led the team successfully in a tri-series that also included Scotland.
It was interesting to note Gayle's comments when the Jamaica team returned from Barbados with the KFC Cup on Monday, while revealing that he listens to what everyone has to say, no matter what it is.
His style of inclusiveness is obviously inspiring and motivating charges around him, and with the regional four-dayers and the unlucky Sarwan getting injured so often, Gayle will no doubt get more opportunities to develop into a captaincy role in which he continues to thrive.
This KFC Cup success and Hunt's passing have pushed the issue of the West Indies coaching appointment back a slot. But don't worry, it's a guarantee as it's still very much alive.
feedback:audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com
published: Wednesday | October 31, 2007
IN THIS life they say two things are guaranteed - taxes and death.
Last Friday marked the sudden passing of a good man, David 'Wagga' Hunt, who collapsed in his bathroom, succumbing to heart failure as he was preparing himself for football duties with his Manning Cup team, Calabar High, which was slated to play Edith Dalton James later in the day.
He had led the school to the Manning Cup title two seasons ago, breaking a 28-year drought, the semis last season and up to Friday, second spot in their preliminary group - which they went on to win by beating Edith Dalton on Saturday in the duly postponed match.
As a mark of respect, the Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) postponed its season-opening schedule on Saturday. Hunt was also a member of the KSAFA executive, serving as its general secretary and founded, coached and had been running one of its participating clubs, Meadhaven United, that had won a number of both junior and senior titles along the way.
Hunt, an ardent and passionate student of the sport, also coached the national Under-17 football team, which missed out on qualification to the Youth World Cup Finals earlier this year, and even before he was named on the national panel, funded his way to the World Cup finals in which Jamaica participated.
There Hunt, whom I've know since boyhood days when I also grew up in Meadowbrook and played ball - much of it Corner League for juveniles in the area at 'Bottom' Field' on Michigan Avenue and sometimes Roehampton Park - would be keen to share the most minute of details on not only football but any other topic of discussion.
Knowledgeable
A Kingston College old boy, he was deeply knowledgeable and was responsible for the production of the annual Champs magazine, that included the programme, predictions and other important information related to the stellar schools track and field event.
Form this column, sincere condolences to his wife, Georgette, and eight-month-old daughter, Amira, other relatives, close friends, associates and well-wishers.
A truly good man and servant of the sport of football has completed his innings. Well played.
For another national team, and sport - cricket, the same two words apply perfectly to their recent exploits in the regional KFC Cup one-day tournament.
Since 1999 when Courtney Walsh led Jamaica to the one-day crown, this country had not won another title in the West Indies senior competition and on Sunday, the Chris Gayle-led team beat last year's double champions Trinidad and Tobago by a comfortable 28-run margin in the final in Barbados.
The team went unbeaten throughout, scoring relatively easy wins over the Leeward Islands, the regional Under-19 team and a Barbados team with West Indies pacers Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards and Pedro Collins. In the semi-finals the team disposed of Guyana in an abbreviated match - 43 overs - due to rain; before scoring 230 and dispatching Trinidad and Tobago in the final.
Victory justified the selectors' decision to appoint Gayle as captain ahead of Tamar Lambert, a move which drew a fair bit of criticisms.
Much of the arguments stemmed from the fact that Jamaica have generally gotten good results with Lambert as captain and Gayle's lack of experience as a skipper.
Leadership qualities
If anything, what the team's victory under Gayle has served to highlight is his leadership qualities. Recently, while the West Indies toured England, the left-hander was given the reins after Ramnaresh Sarwan got injured and led the team successfully in a tri-series that also included Scotland.
It was interesting to note Gayle's comments when the Jamaica team returned from Barbados with the KFC Cup on Monday, while revealing that he listens to what everyone has to say, no matter what it is.
His style of inclusiveness is obviously inspiring and motivating charges around him, and with the regional four-dayers and the unlucky Sarwan getting injured so often, Gayle will no doubt get more opportunities to develop into a captaincy role in which he continues to thrive.
This KFC Cup success and Hunt's passing have pushed the issue of the West Indies coaching appointment back a slot. But don't worry, it's a guarantee as it's still very much alive.
feedback:audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com