Gayle, Sarwan will be missed – Powell
Hyde staying in Falmouth
The Jamaica Tallawahs will begin a new era without some of their past influential figures when they bow into action in the 2020 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tomorrow.
Tallawahs captain Rovman Powell says the absence of Chris Gayle and assistant coach Ramnaresh Sarwan will be a ‘big blow’ for the Jamaican franchise, who will be gunning for their third title in the regional T20 tournament.
Powell told the Trinidad Newsday that the new-look team will be looking to erase the memories of the past season, as well as the preseason squabble that had cast a shadow on the two-time CPL champions.
“To lose Chris first is a big loss, but even to lose Sarwan also is a big loss, but we got to be professional about it. We have to put our best foot forward nevertheless and just come out and play good cricket.
“This is a very important year with regard to Tallawahs. It is no secret that we did not perform well last year, so this year we are definitely looking to change that. But yeah, those guys are a big loss,” said Powell.
NEW-LOOK UNIT
The Tallawahs will have a newlook unit as well as back-room staff for the amended tournament which will feature 33 games across two venues in Trinidad, starting today.
Apart from Gayle and Sarwan, former coach Donovan Miller has moved over to the St Lucia Zouks, while former manager Andrew Richardson is now a part of the Barbados Tridents set-up.
Current CEO Jeff Miller has now assumed the role of manager, with Barbadian Floyd Reifer being appointed the new coach.
With Powell, Andre Russell, Chadwick Walton and longstanding wicket-keeper Glenn Phillips leading the batting charge, Powell believes the new acquisitions, including Sandeep Lamichhane of Nepal along with pacers Fidel Edwards, Preston McSween and Carlos Brathwaite, can put up a good showing in this year’s tournament.
“It is a pretty good bowling attack. It is no secret; as I said before, we struggled last year, and this year we try to fix the bowling aspect of things so that we can better that.”
Tallawahs ended last year’s tournament last among the six teams, with only two wins in 10 matches.
Following the cancellation of last season’s Western Confederation Super League due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lenworth ‘Teacher’ Hyde, coach of Falmouth United, says he will be back at the club next season to continue his quest to take them into the Red Stripe Premier League for the 2021-2022 tournament.
The local football season was declared null and void by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in May as the Government tried to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
Unbeaten Falmouth United were leading the competition with 25 points after 11 matches when the pandemic forced an end to the competition.
They were one point ahead of Faulkland FC, while Montego Bay United were third with 22.
Hyde told STAR Sports that he has already started to plan for next season.
“I will be back at Falmouth United most definitely for next season because I am more than prepared to get the team to the
Premier League in 2021-2022,” said Hyde.
“I have been talking to Ky-Mani Marley (owner) regularly and he will be on board again for next season, but we are still waiting to find out when the Super League for 2020-21 will kick off,” he said.
“He (Ky-Mani) loves the football down here. Members of the community are coming out again to watch football and they love the team, and so we are just looking forward to the announcement for the start of the season,” Hyde said. Falmouth had a record of seven wins and four draws before the league was aborted.
Hyde underscored that like many local fans, they were all disappointed that the season was called off by the JFF.
“We were the leaders going into the final round and so were set on getting into the Premier League next season,” Hyde said.
“It was very disappointing for us because the man (Ky-Mani Marley) spent a lot of money on the team. We were all very sad after the abrupt end to the competition. Everywhere else around the world, they finished their leagues and we couldn’t finish ours,” he said.