By Akeem Greene
Twenty-six year-old Guyanese First-Class Cricketer, Antony Adams, is already plotting a career path post-retirement. Adams, who is already a Level Two Coach, stated there is a great hunger to go even further.
The left-arm spinner and handy lower-order batsman, commonly called ‘Kunta’ by his peers and teammates, is now ‘Coach Man’ for the young generation of cricketers from Essequibo.
Born and raised in Suddie on the Essequibo Coast, Adams got his first major coaching role in the just concluded Dave West Indian Imports and Exports Under-15 Inter-County tournament.
Though the lads from the Cinderella County finished in the cellar position, it was a top notch learning experience for Adams.
“The experience has been good and I am trying to see how best as a coach I can impact someone’s life; these guys have a lot to learn and over the years I have learnt a lot from playing cricket so I want to share what knowledge I have so they can use it in their game.”
The young father added, “It is good these guys have someone who is still playing the game and who knows what it takes to play at the highest level. It is for them to pay attention, be willing to learn and ask questions so that they can better their game.”
Adams, whose formative years in the sport were spent at the New Opportunity Corps Club, rationalised quickly there is there huge difference with when he played Under-15 cricket to this current group.
“When I was coming up, we had a lot of time outdoors, we played cricket or football all of the time and most of the youngsters these days they are on their phones; still playing cricket but on their phones; they are not as active as we were and you see the maturity from playing outdoors and building the toughness. It is something we as elders can encourage them to have more outdoor activities.”
Though returns were bleak for Essequibo in the four-team tournament, Adams sees a light at the end of the tunnel for the lads, should they continue to be exposed to higher levels of cricket.
“They are lot of good youngsters- there is Shaziff Mohammed, Rajindra Ramballi and Bruce Vincent- just to name a few. It is to get them to understand the game; 50 overs mean a lot of balls and it is important to get them to bat all those balls. Once we can get them to do it will beneficial for the game going forward.”
Having also played for Guyana at Under-19 level from 2009 to 2011 and becoming one of the most, if not the most consistent spinner in the Jaguars Franchise League, Adams’ passion is to just keep moving up the coaching ladder.
“This is something I always want to do; I have a strong passion for Essequibo cricket and I want to see Essequibo reach a level of dominance. I am not thinking too far ahead since my career as a cricketer is far from over; I still would love to play for Guyana again and I will keep working overtime to achieve (that), but I see coaching these youngsters as a way where I learn more about myself and understand the game better.”
