Charlestown, Nevis - As the Hon. Joseph Parry Cotton Rebels (CG REBELS) took to their Cotton Ground home court last evening to engage in a well needed practice session, they had a surprise visitor in no less a person than the main sponsor himself, the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry.
As the team grouped together the Premier gave them a brief but very upbeat pep talk.
“I am very proud of you…I know that you are the best team in Nevis but I never knew that you had done so well in the St.Kitts league”, stated the Premier. “I know that you can do it—and you are going to do it. Let me be a little parochial here—only Cotton Ground can do it like this”. This he said to the ecstatic cheers of the players.
Prior to the Premier’s address, Coach Gene Amory took time out to introduce the Premier to the players and actually identified them by their role in the team.
Premier Parry told the players that when they won a league in St.Kitts, he was at a Public meeting in Charlestown when they came through with their celebratory motorcade which he was happy to be a part of.
“ I won’t be here this time as I will be away on Government business but when I come back, we will have a big party in Cotton Ground—we will still have the party but I want it to be because you are the champion Basketball team in St.Kitts and Nevis”, he declared.
Also on hand to congratulate the players was Mr. Lincoln Barry, Nevis’ Director of Sports who indicated that he had arranged a boat charter to St.Kitts for Sunday 17th October when the CG Rebels will be set to engage the Hitters in the first of the best of five finals. According to Barry, the Caribe Queen will leave the Charlestown pier at 6pm and return to Nevis one half hour after the final match of the evening. Passengers will pay $50.00 round trip and this fare will include a free pass into the Basketball City.
There will also be T-shirts with the CG sign available for a small fee and balloons for the spectators.
Barry further indicated that he had been in touch with the President of SKABA Mr. James ‘Barman’ Hanley and plans are presently afoot to host the third match of the finals in Nevis. He indicated that work will commence immediately to prepare the court at the Grell Hull-Stevens Netball Complex for the encounter. He is inviting the whole of Nevis to show their support for the history making team as the Rebels seek to establish themselves at the top of the sport in the Federation.
The players for their part thanked the Premier and the Director of Sports for their tremendous support and promised to a man that they will be bringing the trophy back to Nevis and more specifically –to Cotton Ground.
