More than 600 spectators converged on the Windward Ground in St Philip last Sunday for a worthy cause – supporting the fund-raising match for Keana Banfield, a pupil of Christ Church Girls’ School who has undergone several surgeries in the past few months.
They went to see a team led by Mighty Gabby, Western Union Windforce, competing in a friendly rivalry against Scotia Bank Volcanoes, captained by Red Plastic Bag.
It was a lively atmosphere where families arrived in droves and sat at all ends of the ground to take in the fun and entertainment provided by calypsonians, comedians and others in the industry.
“I’m happy to be part of it and we are beginning to think that maybe this is something that we should do every Crop Over – to try and see if we can raise funds and have them available for causes like this one,” said Red Plastic Bag.
He fell caught by his nemesis, Gabby, who bowled his foolsra from time to time.
“I saw it coming, so I went and put myself at second slip ‘cause I knew that the guy (Ezra Hinds) can bowl very well.?So the guy ‘brek off the edge’ and I just dived and caught it,” Gabby said.
“It was a good catch, and then I gave Clarkie (Ronnie Clarke) the foolsra . . . when he was looking for a doosra. I put the foolsra – one that is looking like it’s going straight, then it dips late.”
Thanking John Roett for organizing the match, Gabby, who was bowled for a duck when the score was tied, said: “It was really for a worthy cause. This little girl, she had so many operations and she is fighting. We have to do whatever we can to assist.”
Pointing out that financing for Keana was over $300 000, Gabby said: “This is a little contribution but any little bit can help because Barbados has about 300 000 people. If everybody put $1, we could help to save this little girl’s life.”
Meanwhile, Roett stressed that the concept of celebrities in the cultural industry supporting needy children would continue.
“I have had talks with a couple of he guys and a member of Government and we are contemplating if we can do this as an annual event to have the funds put down for any other child that [may] have that kind of difficulty,” Roett said.
“We may do it once or twice more but not necessarily with cricket. The guys play football very, very well. A lot also play road tennis. Mr Dale was a national football player. We have talent on the actual music scene.”
While thanking all who supported the cause and patronized the event, he reminded them of the account at Scotia Bank, Coconut Walk under the name of The Keana Banfield Cricket Fund and with account number – 809039.
Windforce took the winners’ trophy, while the Man-of-the-Match award went to Ezra Hinds, who made 34 and took two wickets. (SG)
