National cricketer, table tennis player call for unity among Guyanese
National sportsmen Leon Johnson and Shemar Britton have used their social media platforms to call for unity among Guyanese as the country faces ethnic tensions stemming from the recent General and Regional Elections.
On his Facebook page, Johnson, who is the captain of Guyana’s national men’s cricket team, wrote: “They say the most unifying thing in Guyana is cricket. As leaders of the most unifying thing in Guyana, I call for peace between everyone.
“Before you act think about the consequences and how it may affect you, your family and the country.” At least one fatality has been recorded due to a number of standoffs between police and civilians following the declarations of votes in Region 4.
Meanwhile, Britton, a former Caribbean under 21 table tennis champion, reminded of a few special sporting moments in the nation’s recent history which captured the inseparability of the Guyanese society void of electoral bliss.
See Britton’s verbatim statement below.
“Dear Guyana, every victory we have achieved as a nation was because we were together as a people 6 races united as one. There’s no independence without Cheddi and Burnham, there is no Stanford T20 championship without Travis Dowlin’s 75 against Jamaica and Deonarine’s ‘6’ in the finals. Who could forget Johnathan Foo’s miraculous innings the second time we won.
“There’s no Gold Cup appearance without European reinforcements, there is no world championship in table tennis teams without Natalie ‘speedy’ Cummings’ Amerindian presence. No Pagwah celebrations without our Indian brothers and sisters, no delicious roti and curry, there is no cookup rice without our African brothers and sisters, no Golden Pagoda mixed fried rice without our Chinese, no pepper pot without our Amerindians.
“Don’t forsake your Guyanese brothers and sisters because of smoothtalking politicians and ancient stories from the elderly about a time we quite frankly no longer recognize. “Guyana belongs to us all and as history has shown, united we stand, divided we will surely fall. Guyana is the only home I have so I can’t afford to see her fall.
“Stop with the nonsense don’t let politics divide us.
“Ps for all my highly educated colleagues you know yourself, your education is supposed to grant you the wisdom to refuse to be used as mere political pawns, stop ridiculing people who genuinely don’t know and let each one teach one don’t share misguided uneducated posts and information intended to divide instead take a stand and chose to unite.” (Reuters) - Australian Marnus Labuschagne’s first oneday international century proved to be in vain as South Africa breezed to a six-wicket victory in Potchefstroom yesterday and a clean sweep of the three-match series.
After being sent into bat, Australia posted a below-par 254 for seven in their 50 overs, with South African-born Labuschagne hitting a run-a-ball 108 to bolster an otherwise mediocre effort from the visitors.
The home side always looked in control of their chase, JJ Smuts playing the anchor role with a career-best 84 and ably supported by other new faces Kyle Verreynne (50) and Heinrich Klaasen (68 not out) as they romped to victory with 27 balls remaining.
South Africa continued their recent dominance of Australia in this format having won 11 of their last 12 ODI meetings dating back to 2016.
“We have not been at our best, we have been good in patches and then let our foot off the gas,” Australia captain Aaron Finch said at the post-match presentation.
“Credit to South Africa, they put us under pressure with bat and ball. We only took 12 wickets in the series, but all round we have not been at our best.”
Australia struggled to get going in their innings, managing just 39 in the first 10 overs for the loss of David Warner (4), and were three down for the addition of another 16 runs as South Africa picked up the key wickets of Steve Smith (20) and Finch (22).
Finch was a debut wicket for South African seamer Daryn Dupavillon (1-21), who was in the team after the home side rested the spearhead of their attack, Lungi Ngidi.
Labuschagne set about rebuilding the innings, though, as he put on 81 for the fourth wicket with D’Arcy Short (36) and 53 for the fifth with Mitchell Marsh (32).
He reached his maiden ODI century off exactly 100 balls, much to his delight and that of a sizeable group of family and friends in the stands.