By Rupe Harricharan
The New York based Galaxy Cricket Club is undergoing a transformation in management with the formation of a supporting entity, the Legend Social Club. This effort is essentially a partnership between a group of businesspersons and member cricketers and fans.
The main objective is to create quality by contributing to the nurturing of players and to the growth and development of the sport of cricket. Further, cricket can help in the health and fitness of the youths in our community and can serve as social outlet uniting cultures and countries. Ultimately, the Legend Social Club hopes to help foster needed change in the approach to the administration and promotion of the game in New York.
Observations will proceed match by match as the Club seeks to identify the many challenges and obstacles preventing any meaningful interest and support for the cricket. Our community is faced with dwindling participation in sport. Numerous ideas have been suggested to account for this but I have never bought into any of these. I have come to believe that community effort is massively lacking. Although cricket is rapidly expanding around the world (it is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer), the wealthiest nation in the world has been left behind. Little or no attention has been given to addressing the demise of a revered past time.
Last Sunday, May 7,2017, the Legend Social Club attended the cricket match, Galaxy Cricket Club Vs Victory Cricket Club. Below are my thoughts on the fixes needed:
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It was too Cold for a cricket match. Not pleasant for the cricketer nor the fans.
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The ground was not properly maintained for a professional cricket
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Players were ill prepared and it impeded an enjoyable match.
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No support system around the teams. They are stretched to exact players. Sometimes no one to score.
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No fun element for spectators.
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Substandard officiating.
These points are to shed a light to the prevailing issues. As you may know, the list can go on and on but more importantly a viable set of solutions is needed. We must find meaningful fixes.
The Legend Social Club will identify the aforementioned and other shortcomings and try to develop a structure starting with the Galaxy Cricket Club. I am extending an invitation to the community to join us in our search for solutions; for together we can make a difference.
Please attend the next game of the Galaxy Cricket Club to be held at the Baisley Pond Cage (116-19 Foch Blvd, Queens, NY) on Sunday, May 14, 2017. Come and mingle with the Legend Social Club.
(Rupe Harricharan is the CEO of Legend Cookhouse and a member of the Interim Board of Directors of the Legend Social Club.)
