By Neil Kumar

STEVEN Anthony Jacobs elevation to the position of Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, is indeed most heartening and welcomed in the sports arena.
The former national senior cricketer’s ability to lead and work as a team player was recognised at a very early age when he was appointed captain of the Guyana under-19 national cricket team.
Minister Jacobs is a former student of the prestigious St Joseph High School. While there, he demonstrated his ability to socialise and give leadership to the student population. He managed his academic studies with his sports activities with great success.
He studied at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus and obtained a Diploma in Sports Management. He was also the captain of 10 Combined Colleges and Campuses teams.
In 2007, he was selected to represent Guyana in the national Under-19 cricket team. In the same year, his ability to lead was a reality as he was appointed captain of the National Team.
In the 2007 Regional Under-19 Cricket Tournament in St Kitts, Jacobs was nominated the best “tactical captain” of the tournament. This was augmented by his performance in the field, along with the bat and the ball. Steven Jacobs led the team on and off the field with great respect and dignity.
In the One-Day Tournament, his best bowling performance was when he took three wickets for a mere 13 (3-13) runs. He was further awarded by the sponsors and declared the best fielder in the tournament. At that very young age Steven Jacobs was awarded Junior Cricketer of the Year by the then prestigious Guyana Cricket Board.
This masterful young man was appointed Vice-Captain of the West Indies Youth Team in 2008. He further demonstrated his leadership qualities with great success in the ICC Youth World Cup in Malaysia. In the world Cup he scored a dashing 101 from 86 balls against Papua New Guinea, while against Ireland he took three wickets for eighteen runs (3-18) runs. He is the first Guyanese to score a 100 in an under-19 World Cup game.
Minister Jacobs, after playing as a youth player, went on to play in the national senior team. He represented Guyana, as a recognised all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling off-spin and was also a franchise player for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Further, he was a member of the senior cricket team and was clearly identified as a team player.
His elevation to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is indeed most welcome and his approach to life as an open-minded listener, and his vast experience working alongside President, Dr Irfaan Ali and his powerful Cabinet team will certainly unite our youths and kaleidoscopic culture through sports to make the One Guyana motto a reality.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.