BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is written in the Holy Bible that “faith can move mountains”, but the said book also warns that “faith without works is dead”.
There are many people in the world who regularly combine these two passages from the Holy Bible whenever they would have encountered difficulties; and among them is a national of St. Kitts and Nevis, Codville Rogers, who is a gifted athlete and who had participated in many sports disciplines.
Born July 4, 1976 to Viola Rogers and Otis Harvey in the town of Sandy Point, Rogers started playing cricket, football and basketball from a very tender age.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Rogers stated that in those early years football was his first love, but as the years went by cricket took its place and that on a part-time basis he used to play basketball when those two disciplines were not in progress.
Rogers however made his name as a cricketer and had represented St. Kitts at the senior level for more than 15 years, and that he also played for the Leeward Islands as a batsman.
He is described by Espncricinfo.com as a left-handed batsman who is a natural stroke maker that possesses the sort of timing and finesse comparable to top-flight players, especially when playing with a vertical blade.
It added that while he remains particularly confident when executing cross-batted shots, it has often brought about his demise in some particularly unwieldy ways. He is most comfortable to fast bowling and his upright stance and free flowing arms allow him to pierce the offside field with utter grace. Against slower leather-flingers, he is sometimes found wanting through a lack of positive footwork.
In a game against the England Test team on their 2009 tour of the West Indies, Rogers’ two half-centuries for the St. Kitts-Nevis Invitational XI left many spectators, a few journalists and perhaps some of the English players wondering why he was unable to play in an underperforming Leeward Islands team in the Regional First Class Competition, Espncricinfo.com added.
A graduate of the Sandy Point High School, Rogers told SKNVibes that one of his most memorable achievements as an athlete came when he scored his first hundred against Montserrat in 1997.
On April 2, 2012, Rogers was diagnosed with Lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymphocytes; a type of cell that forms part of the immune system.
When diagnosed with the ailment, it was deemed curable but the cost of the treatment was beyond his financial means. However, a national fundraising effort called the Codville Recovery Fund and headed by the St. Kitts Cricket Association (SKCA) got underway in order to assist in offsetting his medical expenses.
After months of this fundraising activity, the SKCA presented the cash raised for him.
Aukland Hector made the presentation to Rogers on January 7, 2013 after the fundraising activity ended shortly before the last of the three One Day Internationals between West Indies and New Zealand played at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
The St Kitts Cricket Association and a number of local radio stations helped to raise funds by way of Raffle, call-in shows and asked persons to make a deposit to an account at the National Bank.
The prizes for the raffles were donated by Digicel (Smart Phone) and Stanley Franks Jr. (Flat Screen TV).
The total funds raised were $23,855.58.
Rogers also spoke to SKNVibes about his current status in terms of his treatment.
“Well I had the last one (round of chemotherapy) last Tuesday and I am doing a scan this week and then will go back to the doctor on the 22nd of January.”
He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the past nine months in Miami and was very grateful for the donations he received.
“It wasn't too bad, but you know these kinds of treatment cost a lot of money. Every cent counts!”
He also expressed his anxiousness to return to the cricket arena though he would no longer play at a competitive level.
“Yes, I am not giving up cricket just yet, but I am not playing for St. Kitts, but for Sandy Point and 35 and over.”
He then thanked the SKCA for ist efforts in assisting him.
“I just want to tell them thanks a lot for everything and we appreciate what they have done to assist me.”
He then continued in his commendation: “I want to thank God Almighty for sparing my life, my families, friends and all who have supported me at this time, and a big thank you to my loving wife Vincia Merritt-Rogers for being there all the way…and not forgetting the churches for their prayers, etc.
“I also want to thank the St. Kitts/Nevis Association in Florida for its assistance and my friend in Miami who I am staying with now. His name is Orville Depo Benjamin. He is also from Sandy Point. I also want to thank his wife Kristal Benjamin, and not forgetting Elvis James who is also from St. Kitts, as well as everyone else who helped in any way.”
Codville Rogers is also employed as a coach in the Ministry of Sports.
