Across The Board: Freddo Worthy Of Support (25 October 1998)

25 October 1998

Across The Board: Freddo Worthy Of Support

by Chetram Singh

The Guyana Cricket Board's (GCB) recent efforts to raise funds for the ailing former Guyana and West Indies opener Roy Fredericks have been successful although more are welcome.

Fredericks, 56, is widely regarded as one of the best opening batsman produced by the West Indies. A short (5' 6") left-handed batsman, his most memorable performance was a score of 169 against Australia in 1976.

His contribution to that game was crucial, ensuring that the West Indies won at least one game in the series which ended in a 5-1 drubbing. Fredericks reached his century before lunch in a record 71 balls.

Roy Fredericks is certainly worthy of the support of all cricket lovers in the Caribbean.

The dashing opening batsman took ill earlier this year and the GCB, on learning of Fredericks' need for funds to cover his medical expenses, started a fund-raising effort.

While an official count of all the funds collected has not yet been done, we are optimistic that the US$10 000 target set for the fund will be reached, but more is expected from overseas.

The specific nature of Fredericks' ailment could not be immediately ascertained, but it is understood that he started to complain about pain in his throat. As his condition worsened over time and it became clear that no treatment was possible in Guyana, doctors there advised Fredericks to seek treatment in the United States. When Fredericks left for a Long Island medical facility in early September, his voice was barely audible.

Toward the end of September, Fredericks underwent surgery, which was a huge success and he is now at his sister's home in New York. He is talking, the pain has lessened and he is resting comfortably. It is only a matter of time before he is well enough to come home.

The GCB initiative is led by a five-member Roy Fredericks Benefit Committee, which organised a number of fund-raising events in Guyana coinciding with the playing of the recently concluded Red Stripe Bowl tournament.

On October 4, there was a special match that saw former Guyana and West Indies greats such as Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs and Clive Butts take to the field alongside current stars like Carl Hooper. This team played a mixed side of former West Indies players, including Guyana's Roger Harper (captain), Joel Garner of Barbados, Michael Findlay of St. Vincent and Reginald Scarlett of Jamaica. Three members of the Bermuda team which participated in the Red Stripe Bowl, were also in that squad.

The match, which ended in a draw, was attended by approximately 700 people, and the gate receipts were estimated at approximately US$2 500.

Other funds were raised through personal donations collected during Red Stripe games played in Guyana and donations made by Guyanese business houses. One establishment, the Water Chris Hotel, located in Georgetown, hosted a fund-raising dinner on Fredericks' behalf. This event was sold out and is believed to have raised around US$1000.

Outside of Guyana, the fund-raising effort was taken up in Barbados, with the Barbados Cricket Association establishing a special Roy Fredericks Fund-raising Account with Barclays Bank. Collections also took place in Jamaica at Red Stripe tournament games, and another effort was initiated by former Guyanese national players residing in New York.

Wednesday's official count by the GCB put the total funds raised at US $12 000.The Guyana Cricket Board will be presenting the money to Fredericks directly.

Chetram Singh is president of the Guyana Cricket Board. Across The Board is the column of the West Indies Cricket Board.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)