THE WEEKLY GLEANER | JUNE 12 - JUNE 18, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 14 Gregory Bryce/Staff Reporter RECENT REGGAE Boyz acquisitions Rumarn Burrell and Tyreece Campbell are both pleased to have played their first minutes on Jamaican soil at the National Stadium on Tuesday, when the Jamaicans took part in the country’s 3-0 win over Guatemala. BURRELL AND Campbell both made cameo appearances on Tuesday, with Burrell taking to the field in the 77th minute, replacing Warner Brown, and Campbell coming on in the 83rd, replacing Renaldo Cephas. It was the first time the two were playing at the National Stadium. Burrell had been selected for the Unity Cup squad last month, when he debuted in London, while Campbell was making his first-ever appearance in the Jamaican colours. Speaking after the match, Burrell said he enjoyed playing at the National Stadium in front of the Jamaican home support. “It was great out there in front of all of Jamaica. I’m proud to be Jamaican and I’m proud to play in front of everyone. I thought the game was pretty smooth and, coming on, I just had to get up to speed with the game,” Burrell told The Gleaner. “The atmosphere was great. Everyone was cheering when we were getting the big chances, and everyone was getting up and out of their seats. I liked the music before the game and after the game. It was a vibe.” Campbell, who plays his club football alongside international teammate Kaheim Dixon at Charlton Athletic, said his debut was long in coming. The 21-year-old forward has enjoyed a terrific spell of form in club football, which he credits for earning his spot in head coach Steve McClaren’s Reggae Boyz squad. “I’m feeling happy. I was waiting for this a long time, so I’m happy to get my debut here,” Campbell said. “It’s been a good season for me. The team has done well and I have done well individually, so I’m happy to get the call up after it.” Both players will now turn their attention to the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup, their first major international tournament with the team. Jamaica has been drawn in Group C alongside Panama, Guatemala, and Guadeloupe, with their opening group-stage match coming against Guatemala on June 16. Burrell is excited ahead of the ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: FIFTY YEARS since hoisting the first World Cup trophy on the steps of Lord’s Cricket Ground, there is still a surreal feeling for two-time World Cup-winning captain Sir Clive Lloyd. ON SUNDAY, June 22, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Cricket West Indies and the West Indies Players’ Association will honour the legendary captain at their annual awards gala, alongside other living champions. Standing at an imposing six feet, five inches, Lloyd played a major role in restoring the West Indies’ status as the most dominant unit in world cricket after leading his team to back-to-back World Cup triumphs. In 1975, Lloyd captained a predominantly inexperienced squad into the inaugural tournament, and to cop the title under such circumstances still resonates deeply with him. Reliving the victory, Lloyd shared: “It was a very significant moment for us because we were not doing so well in Test matches and given that the tournament was new to us with a very young team made the feeling extra special, especially when you remember that we were not the favourites.” “It was wonderful, after that scare we had against Pakistan, we realised that we could not lose that trophy, and with all those youngsters now coming through, it gave our cricket a huge lift to win the World Cup,” he said. “When you are not the favourites, it makes the moment more special and West Indians around the world were very happy,”he further added. During the final, the skipper strode to the crease with his team in strife at 50 for 3 against Australia, but a powerful counterattacking innings triggered a renaissance for the Caribbean team. Lloyd hammered 12 fours and two sixes in a belligerent innings of 102 from 85 balls to propel the West Indies to 291 for 8, eventually carving out the historic 17-run win. Lloyd earned his reputation as a leader of men, and creating a platform for his team to secure victory epitomised his leadership skills. “We had lost a couple of early wickets, and I was left with Rohan Kanhai to recover the innings, and we added over a hundred together which brought the game back in the balance while helping us to a competitive total, followed by a stunning display in the field which resulted in five run-outs.” RENOWNED TRAIT One of Clive Lloyd’s most renowned traits was uniting individuals from various Caribbean countries with the singular goal of becoming the best cricket team in the world. Having such a diverse culture at his disposal, Lloyd saw it as an opportunity to cherry-pick the best players to build the West Indies side he envisioned. “Being captain of the West Indies is always difficult because we have 14 islands, different cultures, different backgrounds, and to get them together is the greatest triumph, because you get everyone thinking as one while wanting to win together for the people, which is the common goal.” There was a lingering sense of pride and passion that came with the players copping the top prize at the home of cricket. “When we got home, we realised the magnitude of this success, because there were motorcades, people there cheering us on, and we realised how much it meant to the people, and it gave the Caribbean that impetus to believe that we were now back on top of the world.” The legacy of creating history for the people of the Caribbean remains at the forefront of Lloyd’s mind, as he urges current and future stars of the region to live by a simple mindset. “I hope that it will give that feeling that if you put in the effort, you will do well because the only time success comes before work is in the dictionary and if you put in the hard work, the success will come.” During his captaincy, the West Indies were the most successful team in the world, going 27 Test matches without defeat – a run that included 11 consecutive wins and the infamous ‘Blackwash’of England in 1984. He also served as a West Indies team manager, selector, and ICC match referee. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Wain McIntosh/Contributor THIS YEAR, Windrush Day – the day to honour the Caribbean men and women who arrived aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948, helping to rebuild post-war Britain – carries added significance as Milton Keynes has been named the UK’s official City of Cricket for 2025. IN a vibrant celebration led in partnership with Bucks Cricket and Broughton and Milton Keynes Parish Council, the legacy of the Windrush generation will be honoured not just with words — but through cricket, the game they loved and brought with them across the Atlantic. The Windrush generation brought more than manpower to the UK. They brought culture, music, food, language – and cricket. Despite facing systemic racism and discrimination, they built communities, raised families, and contributed immensely to the NHS, public transport, and British public life. Windrush Day exists to honour their achievements and sacrifices and to make sure their stories are never forgotten. A cultural symbol, even in decline in the Caribbean, cricket is much more than a sport. It was a symbol of defiance, unity, and national pride. Today, cricket may have lost some of its popularity among the Caribbean-British youth, but this Windrush Day is about reviving its spirit as a community celebration, using the game as a living link between generations. As City of Cricket 2025, Milton Keynes is proud to host a day-long celebration of Windrush heritage in partnership with Bucks Cricket, which has been instrumental in bringing together grassroots clubs, schools, and local communities for this historic occasion. A community festival, the event will feature; cricketing legends including Courtney Walsh, Devon Malcolm, Roland Butcher, and Collis King, who will display their skills and inspire young persons. Prominent CaribbeanBritish celebrities, are scheduled to join in support and uplift the day’s message . There will be workshops, family cricket games, heritage displays, and intergenerational storytelling. Food, music, and cultural performances will reflect the rich Caribbean heritage of the Windrush generation. ‘It was a vibe’ Reggae Boyz midfielder Demarai Gray (right) congratulates Warner Brown for turning in his corner to score Jamaica’s third goal of a Concacaf World Cup Qualififier against Guatemala at the National stadium last evening. Brown scored twice in the 3-0 win. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MCKOY Freshly minted Reggae Boyz happy with first minutes at ‘The Office’ CWI to honour Sir Clive Lloyd at awards gala Clive Lloyd displaying the World Cup trophy. Milton Keynes named UK’s official City of Cricket for 2025 SPORTS tournament and believes it brings more opportunities for him to make an impact. “I’m mad excited, and mostly since it’s in the USA. I haven’t been there in ages, so it’s good to play out there,” he said. “Mostly, it’s just taking the chances and looking forward to playing with the team again.” gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com
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