DEFENDING champions Guyana left these shores yesterday to compete in the second annual West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Caribbean Twenty20 tournament which bowls off in Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow.
Included in the team is the hard-hitting and soft-spoken 20-year-old Albion Sports Club middle-order batsman Jonathan Foo who created a stir with his ability to hit the ball clean and hard in last year’s tournament.
Born to Mary Chinsammy and Deryck Foo on September 11, 1990, he is the nephew of Michael and Andy Chinsammy, two former national Under-19 spinners. Foo said he is more focused on doing well in this year’s tournament.
“Having been called an underachiever by so many persons, I set myself a goal which was to make the national senior team for the Regional limited overs tournament, but that did not materialise.
“My next aim was the T20 team having heard about the Regional tournament, so I trained hard with my team, Upper Corentyne Free Weekend, and at times by myself, while working on my explosive hitting going into the tournament, and as the saying goes, it paid off.”
He realised his dream, when he made the national team that contested and won the WICB Regional T20 tournament, being the find of the tournament for Guyana with his clean hitting, something he said is more of timings than power.
“When you look at me, you will see a frail person, so there is not much power coming there. However, I have what most specialist batsmen around the world possess – timings, and I rely heavily on that, which makes up for a lack of power.
I know it was a surprise to many persons how I was hitting the ball so hard, but what I set out to do was achieved, and that was take Guyana to victory from the moment I made the squad, as it was one of my boyhood dreams come true,” said Foo.
“When I returned home from winning the Regional T20, everybody was wishing me well. I saw on my parents’ face, a bright smile like I have never seen before and it pleased me.”
Such a moment remained in the young and dynamic batsman’s heart as Guyana competed in the Airtel Champions League T20 tournament in South Africa, one where Foo felt he let his teammates and the entire Guyanese nation down.
He continued, “We had been training hard for the tournament and the camaraderie and intensity within the team was second to none. Everyone wanted to do well and we were all looking forward to going out there and representing not only Guyana, but the West Indies as well.
“As for me, I was looking to go out there and play my natural game. Every time I walked to the crease, I put a price on my wicket, saying to myself I must not get out unless that target is achieved. The skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan also told me to believe in myself as the team believes in me and what better words of motivation can a young batsman ask for, but I failed.”
“When I returned home, I found it difficult to face my parents and even some of my friends because to myself, I felt I let them down, but my mother told me to be strong, there will be more tournaments like that one, where I will be a shining star for Guyana.
“Those words motivated me to work and train harder at my game and after being selected for Guyana’s Regional 50 overs side, another dream being made a reality. I told myself there is no turning back from here, with the West Indies team being my next step.”
He did not make the senior team, but was selected to represent the Region on their ‘A’ team against the visiting Pakistanis.
Looking at the bigger picture, the second annual CT20, Foo said his main focus is to see Sarwan hoist the trophy at the Kensington Oval on Sunday, January 23.
“Last year, the skipper allowed Bishoo (Devendra) and me to accept the trophy, saying our last wicket stand ensured we won it. This time however, I would relish and cherish the opportunity of seeing him receiving the trophy, as it meant we repeated as champions.
“My aim is to ensure Guyana become the first team to repeat as CT20 champions and I know that once we play as a competitive and aggressive unit, we can do it and certainly (with a big smile on his face), I intend to play my part with the bat.”
Foo continued to heap praises on his parents, uncles, Sarwan, manager of Albion Sports Club cricket team Vemen Walter and national Under-19 coach Hubern Evans for their time and dedication given to him as he honed his craft.
Many eyes will be on the young Guyanese of Chinese descent in the second version of the tournament and why not, after giving them lots of reason to do so with his explosive hitting in the first, they should not even wink.
Guyana open their defence against the powerful Jamaicans at the Vivian Richards ground in Antigua tomorrow night.