NAGICO-LICA Cricket One Day Tournament
NAGICO'S Support to LICA Timely and Critical Need for Other Corporate Companies to Come on Board - LICA President.
By Rawle Nelson
In Photo seated left to right: NAGICO's Marketing Manager, Jasmine Payne; NAGICO's Managing Director, Mr. Eric Ellis; President of LICA, Mr. Gregory Shillingford and President of the St. Kitts Cricket Association, Mr. Ingleton Liburd.
The assistance and commitment being shown to the growth and development of cricket within the Leeward Islands is assisting in building the sport however there is still more that can be dine by the corporate business community. This was the frank view expressed by President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, Gregory Shillingford in a telephone interview.
However, the continued reluctance by Texan Billionaire, Sir Allen Stanford to recognize the Leeward Islands Cricket Association LICA continues to huts the association significantly. Shillingford said that Sir Alan has expressed repeatedly that he rather supports and assist the individual associations regionally rather than any one sector or set of associations.
President Shillingford said that he is extremely satisfied with the tournament thus far expressing high praises for the sponsorship of NAGICO." the tournament have gotten off to a great start and I anticipate that with St Kitts spinning a surprise in dethroning Antigua last year after four years of rule that many of the other teams will feel that they have a good chance of winning this year as well," he said.
The LICA President noted that he and his team have already begun working towards rectifying the grave financial difficulties that the association is plagued by but commended NAGICO for what he said has been them stepping up to the plate and playing their part. "We are working to ensure that more corporate entities come on board and at the moment only NAGICO is sponsoring us this is certainly a great burden to them and us, therefore, as President I have already begin working in it," he said.
"Like Sir Allan and his 20/20 to the region, NAGICO is greatly welcomed to us in the Leeward Islands and that is why I am very thankful for the support that NAGICO continues to give to LICA. The reality of the situation is that had it not been for NAGICO then the association would have been in a disastrous situation as we still have not found a sponsor for the three day competition," Shillingford said.
The LICA head noted that there continues to be increased calls for the revival of West Indies Cricket from all circles noting that this is only possible from the rpots. "West Indies cricket is not going to return to its glorious past just like that it begins from the domestic level and yes it also comes from the Leeward Islands level ads well"
Shillingford stressed that his association shares the common vision like other stakeholders where the standard and level of cricket in the region can rise thus resulting in West Indian cricketers being able to do what they do best.
He noted that while Sir Allan is of the belief that West Indian cricketers would be able to play with their fellow countrymen and against their Caribbean counterparts and be rewarded for excellence; the respective associations needs to be supported so as to ensure that that vision is achieved.
"The business community needs to understand that opportunities have to be created for our cricketers if we are going to raise the level of cricket in the region"
It was behind this, Shillingford said: "Since the tremendous support by NAGICO LICA has been able to raise the level of cricket within the Leeward Islands as we are aggressively pursuing opportunities in being able to source additional sponsors."
I can tell you that while many are focused on the millions that individuals like Sir Allan Stanford pumps into cricket the real growth is seeing companies like NAGICO pumping in what they can really afford to assist with staging of competitions, these are the ones that are of greater importance," he opined.
"This assistance given by NAGICO is very timely as we at LICA continue to battle with having to endure sponsorship difficulties. Every time a team has to play away it costs them about 40,000.00 dollars and that is one of the driving reasons behind the association's decision this year to have rounds three to seven contested in St. Kitts," he declared.
When quizzed as to what has been put in place in addressing the financial difficulties that the association is currently faced with, shillingford pointed out that potential sponsors are being approached while the association has put a committee in place to begin addressing that situation,.
"We are trying to get a sponsor that is common to all the islands like NAGICO and this will enhance out situation greatly. We are even looking at approaching the Windward Islands to see possibilities of an alliance in having tournaments executed.
"At the moment the details of what and who we are talking with are privileged information but what I can say is that we are working aggressively in addressing this problem," he said.
Shillingford disclosed that five years ago NAGICO and LICA signed a six years sponsorship deal and while this is the final year of that deal negotiations have already begun with NAGICO to see the possibilities of continued assistance for the effective staging of the competition.