Asks Calvin Roberts

IT SEEMS as though the confusion snake has raised its ugly head at Guyana’s leading youth and sports club, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC), whose Chief Executive Officer/Secretary Hilbert Foster refuses to release a player for reasons unknown.Last October, as I lay in my bed relaxing on my day off, I got a call from Foster who sounded out of breath as he sought my intervention in getting Rajiv Ivan to attend a training session for an important Berbice Cricket Board-organised tournament final against arch-rivals Albion Community Centre Cricket Club.
Having calmed down the burly Foster and listened to his pleas, I made it my duty to call the player in question and enquire from him, his reason for not attending the sessions, outlining certain things that were of importance and his career to him as well.
Following several minutes of conversation, Ivan consented but later told me that once he has played the final, he will no longer seek to represent the RHT Gizmos and Gadgets first division club in any form of cricket, as he is interested in a transfer from the Area ‘H’-based club.
Assuming all went well, I relayed such message back to Foster who had empowered me as mediator, based on his initial phone call, and true to his word, at the completion of the game, which RHT Gizmos and Gadgets lost, Ivan sought his release from the club.
A copy of the letter demanding his release was sent to Competitions Committee Chairman of the BCB, Carl Moore, who in a telephone conversation with this newspaper last Tuesday night, admitted having the letter but did not act upon it, since he felt all was done and dusted.
This assumption by Moore followed Ivan’s departure overseas for a holiday, during which time he took a break from the gentleman’s game and was not named or listed in any squad submitted by RHT Gizmos and Gadgets, for any first division tournament in Berbice, after the match last October.
The left-handed batsman who was overlooked by the BCB Selection panel for the Guyana Cricket Board four-team tournament, recently returned to Guyana and enquired about his release from RHTYSC as a player, only to be told he will not be granted same.
Frustrated and confused, he asked why, since he made his intentions known over two months ago prior to his departure from Guyana, but did not get a favourable answer on the matter.
Having acted as the mediator in the first instance, Ivan called me and explained that his release was not granted by Foster.
Asked to comment on reasons which could prevent a player from being released by a club, Moore told this publication that there are three rules used by the BCB which govern the non-issue of a release to a player from any specific club.
These are; moneys owed, clothes (coloured clothing) owed or indiscipline on the part of the player, who is seeking to avoid punishment.
While some may say it is not safe to judge, I know for sure Ivan was not undisciplined and he has no financial obligation to RHTYSC, even though he has admitted that he has within his possession, their limited overs playing uniform which he intends to return soon.
I called Foster, seeing that we have a great working relationship and enquired of him, his reason for not authorising the release to which he said, “Ivan was disrespectful to me and I will teach him a lesson … furthermore I am not discussing the Rajiv Ivan request for release from RHTYSC, I will not be granting Ivan any release even if he goes to the Pope and make a plea.”
Those words came as a shock to me, since I know Foster to be a man who always chides persons in their fight for power and I never expected him to make such a statement, which he reiterated even when I tried to make it clear what were my intentions.
Strangely, the BCB held their Annual General Meeting and Election of Office-Bearers a few Sundays ago and it was puzzling that Mr Moore in his Competitions Committee Report or even during the Any Other Business part, did not mention Ivan’s request for a release or enquire on the state of affairs of such matter.
That should have been the ideal thing to do, since Foster would have been asked by the hierarchy of the BCB to further explain his reason/s for not granting the player’s request.
If Foster is looking at investment being made in Ivan’s career, there are many instances where coaches and other administrators of sports in Guyana, not only cricket, have invested in players from an early age and they decided to move on and go elsewhere.
Even businessmen invest thousands and at times millions of dollars into their businesses and would lose it either through theft/burglary, fire, default on insurance or court matter with a spouse or other business partner.
Yes, we all know many players are migrating to greener pastures, whether overseas or elsewhere, with some even club-hopping for reasons unknown, but that does not mean a request for transfer should not be granted, even when the player is not happy where he is.
The relevant authorities especially the newly elected executive body of the BCB needs to investigate the reason(s) why Foster is refusing to grant the release of Rajiv Ivan from the Club, especially since the player has complained repeatedly to me, his discomfort competing for the RHTGG first division team.