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St Lucia’s cricket king Darren Sammy has found his queen and he’s playing for keeps!
We may take it for granted, but it is not everyday you get to meet a real Saint Lucian hero or superstar you know. And while the innocent young ones seem to make more of a fuss when they see the likes of Nicole David, Ricky T or Darren Sammy, some of us grown folks tend to act more cynical when it comes to our local stars. Not so with our publisher, Rick Wayne, who himself has had his fair taste of stardom and fame, but still seems to be a big fan of some of our local heroes among them Derek Walcott and Darren Sammy.
When the cricket star made an impromptu stop by our offices, Wayne could not understand why more was not being made of Sammy’s status by Saint Lucians, the government and even corporate entities. But if they wouldn’t then why not the STAR?
And so we sat down with Sammy this week, not just to talk about cricket. There is more to the man, you know. After all our editor seemed to have been smitten by his physique and the ladies think he ain’t bad looking either.
But naturally, we started talking about cricket and the just concluded series against Bangladesh which Sammy says was important even though the West Indies lost.
“After being left out of the India series it was important that I got another opportunity to showcase what I have and contribute what I could to West indies cricket and I saw it as an opportunity to show the selectors what I am capable of,” Sammy told the STAR. He described as great the support he got from fans, after being left out of the squad for the series against India but understood and accepted the selectors rationale that he was bowling well, but needed to take more wickets and score more runs as an all-rounder.
Sammy, who is on a few weeks break from cricket, says that it is now time to put on his dancing shoes and go dancing, something he likes doing a lot and can often be seen at Pulse nightclub when he is here. It is among the things he misses when he is away, but none more important than his family.
“I really miss them when I am on the road especially my parents, my four-year-old son and my girlfriend,” he told the STAR. But no sooner had he muttered those words than a wide grin came across his face as he continued; “oh yes I miss mother’s cooking a lot too.” His favourite home cooked meal; dumplings and chicken backs.
Apart from his family time when he is on a break, Sammy told the STAR that he also enjoys hanging out with his friends on the block and going into the schools to talk to children.
“I also go to church on Saturdays when I am here. You know I grew up in a religious family and I believe that God has blessed me with this gift and every chance I get where I can give back to the Lord I go to church, to fellowship with my brothers and sisters,” Sammy revealed.
So if not cricket just what would Darren Sammy be doing? “I would be a pastor,” he says without flinching. “Growing up, before I got serious about cricket, I wanted to be a pastor. I used to preach during youth events,” he revealed.
Sammy also told us that he admires biblical characters like David and Solomon who were called on when they were young to be leaders and to serve.
“I see myself as someone who was also given a gift not to keep, but to serve my people and I do not take that for granted,” he says.
Like most of us Sammy too has concerns about some of the ills plaguing society like juvenile crime, saying that we are living in crucial times and these things were predicted in the Bible.
“But if young people do not have avenues to express themselves other than being violent, they will go astray.”
Still Sammy says he is a true Saint Lucian at heart who loves his home and his people and also misses a good mango fresh from the tree when he is away.
“I think I ate about ten last night alone,” he jokes.
He will soon be leaving on a two-week vacation to London with his girlfriend, former carnival queen and model Cathy Daniel. So we had to ask, will the big question be popped?
“Oh no, that has already been done,” he says laughing. “Maybe we will be discussing the wedding plans,” he told us adding, after one step in life is another and we have been together for a while and in the eyes of God marriage is a blessed thing.”
At this point in our interview his number one fan Rick Wayne interrupts and the relaxed Sammy is engaged in a conversation where he appeared more than willing to talk about any subject, the pressures of the game off his back temporarily.
RSS
SAMMY WE LOVE YOU….KEEP IT UP
Way to go Sammy! Keep on being a great example to our young people.
After this Bangladesh series if Sammy isn’t a main stay on the West Indies team somthng is finately wrong. Over the years St. Lucian cricketers have been overlooked by West Indian selectors… remmember Martial Francis and Ignatius Cadet. I hope that Sammy get a fair shake. He deserves it!
OMG…totally!
Mr Sammy, now that you have perfected your bowling, giving much more time to your batting will definitely propell you to earn the full respect of the selectors, players and the West Indian public as a whole.I admire you for keeping your feet rooted to the ground, and the knowledge that you place the Almighty Father so high in your thoughts and actions will serve to guide you in good and bad times. Keep on keeping on, you are a great example to those StLucian youth you talk about.
What a great role model for the youth of St Lucia.
I am a 51 year old St. Lucian living in the USA and reading this article sents chills through my body. I have had great admiration for Sammy from the very first time I read about him in the Star. I wish him all the best and do hope that he becomes a permanent figure on the West Indies side. For some unknown reason he reminds me so much of Clive LLoyd.
He has the potential to be come an ambassador (not political) for St. Lucia.
Keep up the good work Sammy.
This young man deserves our respect and admiration. He is a great youth ambassador for St. Lucia and for West Indies cricket. I would very much like to see him a fixture on the West Indies team.
Sammy has the right attitude for the game, he is gritty and determined to succeed. He is not blessed with the ability to produce tear away speed in his bowling, but no one can bowl with more accuracy and consistency as a stock bowler.
As for his batting, if he can make defiance be the foundation of his approach he will give himself a chance to settle himself and be a more prolific run getter. I advocate this approach for the test version of the game, of course.
The shorter version of the game does not afford such luxury as a batsman it dictates that you get your runs anyhow you can.
Darren Sammy is a small islander and his longevity at the highest level of the game is going to be dependent solely on the brilliance of his performance. Unfortunately that is the way things still are in West Indies cricket. Big island boys are given more chances to disappoint. Ignatius Cadet was the best St. Lucian cricketer that never played for the West Indies and that was a travesty.
I pray that he continues to remain grounded in his faith and love for the game. He is undoubtedly a national treasure.
Go Darren Go… you deserve every minute of this…. DO US A FAVOR STAY AWAY FROM ADOPTING SOME OF YOUR TEAM MATES’ BAD TRAITS - ESPECIALLY CHRIS GAYLE
Well done son of the soil , you make us all proud man. Way 2 go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good work….keep it up
Don’t get married yet, Mr. Sammy. Take your time bro! “Celebrity”, marriage and youth doh mix! Take my advice. DON”T DO IT!!!!!!!!!
Good job Darren. Keep making us proud and as de number 1 cricket fan in Lucia we will keep supporting you. Howz Dat!
yes inzimom,
this is shernell on behalf of “trini” Linton. It give us great pleasure when we hear such glorious news. on behalf of trini congrats. but i know when u cum to dugard u, trini and the crew will celebrate with a jot and a dominoe competition until day breaks. We wish you and your future wife God’s richest blessing as u take the right step. boy u leaving moretime and i in the dust.
To God be The Glory Great Things He Has Done.
Sammy,… YOU GO BOY!!! keep on keepping on …doing the things you do…
good luck and all the best in the future…
Proud son of the soil…
JD.
Sammy..Congratulations ! I am confident that you have not reached the pinnacle of your success but your achievements thus far has shown that with discipline, sacrifice, determination and a high level of professionalism one can produce substantial rewards and international recognition that places a nation (St. Lucia) on the world map. I wish you continued success in your future endeavours.
No longer interested In West Indies, or even listen to cricket, all because over the years St. Lucia has produce some outstanding cricketers, only to put aside for bigger Islanders like Trinidad, jamaica. those selectors were bias then and are still the same way towards small Islanders, Typical example Ignatius Cadette was the best and finest wicket keeper in the region, guess who they selected to tour for the West Indies, jeffrey dujon, Yes he was the best played on numerous West indies president’s team. even toured and played on the West Indies B team To Zimbabwe.my question why was not on the A team, then we had Martial Francis he too was pushes aside. So many of our St. lucai cricketers suffered that biasness, I could name countless of St lucian cricketrs were done injustice by the West Indies cricket board, As much I am supportived of Darren sammy. let’s not forget he was not first st lucian who played for West Indies, and you St lucian commentators set the recorsd straight, So I say to hell with West Indies cricket team.
This constant biasness and injustice to Ignatius Cadette took it toil. he was force to resign from cricket entirely,Ignatius Cadette, ( better known as Cadet) is still regarding the best wicket keeper the region ever saw in action. his cricket record was impeccable. he made selection on the Combine team. when it was very difficult in those yrs, when they were hundreds of players to select just 15, and he was on that first 11 cricket squad. There is no longer Combine Island, but was broken down to winward and leward Island and some other small countries, they claimed to give the small Islanders a chance, hence the reason no longer combine Island, yea right.
I’m st.lucian living in Wales the first time i heard of sammy i like him first st.lucian to play for West Indies great government the media is not giving sammy enough publicity they should rename the B C G to D S C G HOLD SAMMY JAH BLESS we LUVE U PEACE
There is always this huge sense of pride when I see you with the west indies uniform! So far your feet seem still firmly planted on the ground, keep it that way and there will be even bigger successes ut there for you. Keep up the good work!
Very good article on a young man of St. Lucia..it goes to show that we can all do what we want to do once we put our minds to it…
Keep up the good work and being a role model to our kids….
Good for sammy well deserved but i would hold off on the marriage thing cause once u put that ring on………….. things will change! To mr. joseph , ………about cadet ……..what goes around comes around i guess ……………..there were many out district cricketers who where denied their rightful place representing st lucia in favor of the city-boys …………..so they got what they deserved ……………and also dujon was a great wicketkeeper/batsman which was more needed than just a wicketkeeper ………….which cadet was !!!!
So Alvin what made him a better bats man? are you tellng me that always
west Indies players are or were all rounders or none specialist, Well they may have been seeing the same as your favourite Guy Darren Sammy as ignatius Cadet and others the same. not an all rounder, so hope you do not shout fowl when he will or may never been selected as West Indies player, because he was not a complete all rounder