Regional cricketers cherish involvement in VPL 4.0

THE RECENTLY concluded Vincy Premier League (VPL) 4.0, has left its impact on some regional players who are still relishing the experience.

Among these are first time competitors Tobagonian, Joshua James and the Grenadian pair of Imran Joseph and Preston Mc Sween.

James who turned out for the Fort Charlotte Strikers said : “ The tournament was good… It was really tough… It was my first time being here (for the VPL) , so I did not know what to expect, but I played to the best of my ability”.

Although his team stayed rooted to the bottom of the six- team table, James said he was thankful for the opportunity and looks forward to be back for the next edition. He was impressed by the “consistency” shown by La Soufriere Hikers, the winners of the VPL 4.0.

In the case of Imran Joseph who turned out for the Grenadines Divers, despite his personal form he enjoyed his first stint.

“I find I did not come off the way I want to and the way I can play”, Joseph lamented.

However, he was happy with the “vibes” in the tournament, and would not pass up the opportunity for the next edition.

And, although debutant, Mc Sween had limited involvement in the VPL, having suffered a broken finger and was left to take in the proceedings from the sidelines, he had some expressed some satisfaction about the staging of the competition.

“I never expected this… It was a competition I will always remember”, Mc Sween related.

Noting that the atmosphere surpassed his expectations, Mc Sween added, “ It is a great show….the crowd is the life of the party … I loved the support, the camaraderie, even though it was friendly rivalry”.

Mc Sween, who turned out for Fort Charlotte Strikers, said he will put his hand up, should he get the opportunity for the next edition.

For Hodge, who was experiencing his second VPL, he assessed: “It was pretty good tournament and I was really impressed with the organisation, the condition of the pitches and the competition… This was my second VPL, and I must say it is growing from strength to strength”.

Kavem Hodge of Dominica who played for champions, La Soufriere Hikers told SEARCHLIGHT, “It is a perfect opportunity to give a lot or regional players to this type of cricket and give them confidence to move to the higher level”.

Apart from the general organisation, Hodge thought that the response by the Vincentian public provided that impetus in the tournament.

“I have really been impressed with the crowd, the crowd is amazing, this is something you see when you play CPL( Caribbean Premier League)”, Hodge, who was named the tournament’s MVP pointed out.

For Dominican, Allick Athanaze who also had his second taste of the VPL, “ The tournament was very lively … I enjoyed it… It was a lot of competition

and there was very good cricket played and the vibes was right…The standard was very good, with the overseas players coming in”.

Athanaze, who registered the highest individual score, 88, noted : “I would love to come back and I have already told my skipper that if he gets a chance to pick me I would definitely like him to pick me”.

Athanaze represented Dark View Explorers in VPL 4.0.

Apart from James, Joseph, Mc Sween, Athanaze and Hodge, other non -Vincentians who were part of VPL 4.0 included Barbadian, Kadeem Alleyne; St Lucian, Larry Edward, Andre Fletcher and Ryan John; Mickel Joseph of Grenada, and Trinidadian Crystian Thurton.

West Indies test player, Vincentian-born Jomel Warrican also flew over from Barbados to play for Salt Pond Breakers.