PHILIPSBURG--The Daily Herald Sports Person of the Year is Parsram “Rishie” Singh. He has been a cricket coach since 2010.
Singh is the coach of the national U15, U17, U19 and the senior teams. Coach Singh is known for his hard work and dedication to his role.
He has been lauded for his commitment towards cricket by parents, players, spectators and local and regional cricket officials.
The year 2020 has been an unprecedented year with social distancing and mask-wearing caused by the coronavirus, making it very difficult to do sports as we know it. However, Singh has looked for creative ways to keep in contact with the young cricketers under his care.
During the lockdown, the youth players were tasked with individual fitness plans and also referred to videos online. Some of the cricketers sent out videos of their practice sessions, and then the coach made recommendations for improvements and commended good techniques. The players primarily did videos of batting and bowling drills.
Another outstanding feat for the Coach of the Year was the St. Maarten U17 team’s dominance in the Leeward Islands U17 tournament in Antigua. After the tournament, a record four players from St. Maarten were selected to be in the Leeward Islands team. Also, three U15 players were selected to represent the Leeward Islands team.
Imran McSood-Amjad, Chairman of the St. Maarten Cricket Association, in commending the work of Singh, stated, “Rishi’s dedication to the game and in particular our youth development is immeasurable. He gives so much for little return in ensuring that we have a good crop of young players trained, coached and ready for every available challenge.”
One parent, Royston Charles, who is also the youth team manager, had high commendations for Coach Singh. “I have known Coach Singh since our days with Rams Cricket Team and his dedication then to now has even now increased with him as the coach.”
Singh has a full-time job in NAGICO’s marketing department but is usually on the field five days a week; if not coaching the players, he is preparing the pitch or mowing the grass so that games can be played. Charles continued, “Sometimes I ask my son, ‘Why doesn’t Coach Singh stay home and enjoy his off day?’ He is very, very patient with the youngsters. He is not only the coach but acts as a father for the players. He gets the best out of the players.”
Nathan Edward, a promising left-arm seamer and stylish batsman, described one occasion when Coach Singh got the best out of him.
“Coach Singh is a hard-working person. He would do anything to bring the best out of you. He has helped me in so many different ways. On one occasion in the nets, I got hit by a bouncer and after that day, I was scared to face a fast bowler. When the coach saw how I was batting after I got hit, he called me over to his side of the net and said to me that you would get hit if you are scared of getting hit. Batting is like a boxer going in the ring to fight, and if he feels he’s going to get knocked out, what’s the point going in to fight, because he would have already lost without even fighting because of fear.
“He began throwing down short balls at me and I had to bat fearlessly. So after the long talk we had about being fearless, it had me thinking that if I wanted to reach far, I could not play in fear, so I started to pull the ball. Every time he saw me pull the ball, he threw the ball quicker, and while he was doing that I was getting in the zone. He told me to go into the batting net where the pacers were bowling and told them, ‘Don’t hold back’ and I was zoned in. Those balls were coming in slow motion to me. I started playing my shots with authority and conviction. From that time, it was just normal for me to go and play the game without fear.
“Another time for the Adam Sandford tournament, when it was my turn to bat, and the quickest fast bowler from Anguilla was bowling, I had to apply what I practise in the nets. His name is Kelbert Walters. When I reached on the pitch, Coach Singh yelled out to me, ‘Just bat; alright, watch the ball!’ Hearing that from him gave me confidence. My first ball from Kelbert was quick outside off stump. Before I even could bring down my bat, the ball passed me. I was like, woosh gotta be quicker. I was late, so he bowled it on my pads to get me out, but I flicked him to midwicket for one run. Now, no matter how quick someone bowls, I always believe that he is not outing me.
“Another memorable moment is when Coach Singh took the whole team to the beach, where we had real fun. I beat everyone in swimming under the water, including Coach Singh.”
The President of Cricket St. Maarten, Dwayne Elgin, stated that the association is fortunate to have someone as hard-working and self-driven as Rishie. “Rishie is someone we would rely on to complete a given task. He goes beyond the call of duty to ensure cricket is played at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark. His work with our youngsters is commendable,” Elgin said. “The association is always satisfied with the efforts and time that Rishie gives us to keep the game rolling on the island.”
The Daily Herald congratulates Parsram “Rishie” Singh on his noteworthy activities for 2020 and wishes him and his family all the best for the future.
