IT was a bittersweet moment on Monday as the cricketing fraternity, along with Minister of Sports and Director of Sport, flanked by a star-studded list of guests, paid tribute and said their final goodbyes to the late coach, teacher, player and father-figure Sherlock “Zegga” Atwell.

The memorial was held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground, arguably Atwell’s second home, as he lived next to the venue where he spent most of his time working with a number of current players.

Among those present were current acting Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore, former West Indies selector and national spinner Clyde Butts, ex-Guyana all-rounder/entrepreneur Lennox Cush, National youth coach Garvin Nedd,
former Windies chief selector Roger Harper, who delivered the feature address, and brother, Mark Harper.

Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr., Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle, ex-GCB president Cheteram Singh, cricket executive and long-time stakeholder, Bish Panday, also headlined the memorial.

‘Zegga’ as Atwell was more popularly and commonly called, played huge a role in the careers of a number of local players both past and present, according to those who spoke highly of a man that guided a number of young men into champions in their own right today.

DCC and Guyana all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, along with Trevon Griffith, Travis Dowlin, Dennis Squires, and William ‘Bill’ White were accompanied by other players of the club who all came to pay their respects.

During his speech, Nedd, a former Guyana spinner and national youth coach and father of current young West Indies spinner Ashmead Nedd, lauded “Zegga” for his contribution to cricket in Guyana as well as being the catalyst behind the careers of a number of past Guyana/Windies cricketers.

‘Tibsy’ as the senior Nedd is commonly called around the fraternity, said the former coach was a father-figure to him during his younger days as a youth coming up.

Nedd highlighted that his relationship with Zegga started when he (Nedd) was just eight years old, fondly remembering the first time ‘coach’ threw him the ball.

One of Guyana’s premier off-spinners during his run as a youth player before transitioning to National youth coach, Nedd spoke on not having his biological father around all the time and having coach Atwell filling those shoes in ensuring that the he was always fed, attended school, and had a place to stay, among other aspects of nurturing a young man.

Purchasing bicycles, purchasing of drinks or food during recreational times all tied into the personality of the man dubbed the “Father of the club” by most, Nedd added, saying his career and life was basically a result of the dedication and love shown to him by Atwell.

Legendary West Indies and Guyana batsman turned coach, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, as well as Keith Semple, Dowlin, Nedd and a few others are just some of the Senior names to come from “under the hand” of Atwell, according to the ex-National youth coach.

Long-time member of DCC, Deputy Mayor Mentore, a former DCC club president and ex-national Under-19 batsman, spoke highly of the late coach whom he knew for more than four decades.

Atwell was blood and water to DCC and was very impactful, a confidante, caring, compassionate, adding that he played significant roles in cricket both on and off the field, said Mentore.

He too credited Atwell for impacting him in a positive manner during his youth days.

Minister Ramson, a known cricketer himself during his younger days, reflected on his past battles against DCC on the field, recalling a line from Yushi, Atwell’s son, who would say, “Only those who know how to win, can win.”

Former Cricket West Indies chief selector and current DCC president Roger Harper said Atwell made “indelible” contributions to the club up until his last days. Harper also hailed ‘Zegga’ for his invaluable role as a cricket ‘ambassador’.

Meanwhile, Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) president, Neil Barry, highlighted that Atwell was the back of the GCA in his 15 years of service as president, and was responsible for many developmental campaigns.