– Sports Minister warns that distractions are already lining up

HERO’s Welcome is often used loosely but when West Indies fast bowling sensation Shamar Joseph returned home after bowling a magical 12-over spell on the trot; he was a real-life superhero.

Joseph grabbed 7-68, bowling with a bruised and bleeding toe as West Indies beat Australia by eight runs in a fairytale ending inside four days.

The 24-year-old from the remote settings of Baracara, a rural community of mainly logging and farming, helped to evoke plenty of smiles and tears from the faces of fans as West Indies created one of the biggest upsets in the history of Test cricket; beating Australia in their own back yard for the first time in 27 years.

Joseph joined Curtly Ambrose who captured 7-1, Andy Roberts and Gerry Gomez as the only West Indians with seven-wicket hauls in Australia with a second 5-for in only his second Test.

The Berbician, Guyana and West Indies pacer was not even expected to play a part on the final day but demonstrated grit, determination, passion, supreme self-belief and plenty of intestinal fortitude which rubbed off on the rest of the team, producing one of the most joyous days for West Indies cricket in a very long time.

Joseph never played regional youth cricket and played the first of his seven First-Class games last year. He has 34 wickets including four five-wicket hauls.

His remarkable achievements were not unnoticed by the Guyana Government which collaborated with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to host a magnificently organised ‘Hero’s Welcome’ at the new wing of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timheri on Thursday Evening after his return the tour.

The welcoming party included a raucous group from the Baracara community who had made T-shirts acclaiming their champion.

Also present were Government officials including Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, the President of the GCB, other cricket board officials, members of the Guyana Harpy Eagles team and several well-wishers.

The mood was celebratory as the members of the Baracara Community sang folk songs while the Tassa and Congo drummers provided pulsating rhythms in addition to an energetic indigenous dance from the Riverside Angels.

Joseph was greeted as he disembarked the plane by his parents, his fiancé Tristana Williams and his two sons, Minister Ramson and GCB President Singh.

Ninvalle performed the duties of Master of Ceremonies while GCB President Bissoondyal Singh disclosed that he called Joseph on the morning of the final day and was informed by the fast bowler that the doctor had advised him not to play.

“I told him that he had to bowl and to take some bush. Shamar said that those things are not allowed to be used over there. But when I got home, I was pleasantly surprised to see the steam on the TV,” the very proud GCB Head noted.

The pumped-up Sports Minister began his speech with “Welcome home champ” before repeating even louder to the thunderous cheering from the gathering.

“Shamar and Shamar’s performance…this is God’s work. So I want to start today by giving all praise to God. You are not only an inspiration for the people of Baracara, or Berbice, or Guyana or even the West Indies, you are an inspiration to the whole World,” Minister Ramson told a beaming Joseph to more rapturous applause.

Minster Ramson disclosed that he does not often get goosebumps and is ‘moved’ by a lot of things. “I don’t usually stay up late at night, but thank God I stayed up to watch this young man, especially after visiting the beautiful village of Baracara.”

“The Mom at the meeting stood up and proudly said I am Shamar’s mom and I was told that another West Indies cricketer came from that Village. Romario Shepherd also comes from Baracara,” Minster Ramson disclosed.

Minister Ramson told the exuberant gathering that when many people are suddenly catapulted into positions or areas of success, they begin getting lots of friends.

“But not all of them have good intentions but at the same some of them do. That is why you must continue to lean on the people you know who will give you the advice you need. I can say on behalf of myself and his excellency that we will be there for you,” the politician assured the gifted Joseph.

“The pride that we express as a nation, we want to be everlasting and that can happen with continued greatness displayed by Shamar and all of the other people.”

According to Ramson, “the distractions are already lining themselves up and I have seen it many times that the early promise of success is not translated into more because of the distractions.”
“It is up to us …the Village of Baracara, the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Cricket Board and all of his fans and supporters here and around the world could hope for you to be the greatest that you could possibly be,” concluded the MP.