Legendary cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira has called for his late colleague and friend Tony Cozier to be knighted posthumously.
Perreira spoke during the closing ceremony and presentation for the inaugural Cozier and Perreira T-6 Cup played over the Easter Weekend at the 3Ws Oval of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.
“I am not pointing any fingers at any government, but I felt in my heart that when he passed away, he should have died Sir Tony Cozier. It is not too late for him to receive the highest national award from the country of his birth,” Perreira said.
Meanwhile on the field of play, St. Phillip-based Eastern Stars produced a brilliant match-winning total of 76 for four off 5.2 overs to win by two wickets after Rising Stars led by captain Jadan Jones with 47 set a target of 72 for two off their allotted six overs for victory.
Shamario DePezia was named player of the final last night with a well-played 24 runs and a wicket. Teammate Antonio Morris added 22 runs in the chase.
The inaugural tournament, said Perreira as he spoke with the crowd in attendance, has a lot of possibilities. The 82-years-old Perreira whose voice has resonated with thousands around the Caribbean region for decades spoke highly of his late friend Cozier and the experiences they both shared as colleagues.
“Cozier in my opinion is the most outstanding cricket journalist, as an all-rounder, that the world has ever had. We have produced many a great scholar, we as the Caribbean have produced two Nobel laureates, outstanding statesmen, outstanding athletes, great cricketers, but in Winston Anthony Lloyd Cozier, we have produced a commentator, who did television, radio and wrote print for the many newspapers in the world, all in one day. As far as I know, no other journalist has ever done that and we can be extremely proud of Tony Cozier.
“We have produced many great cricketers but we have created a great commentator, respected throughout the world. The only place that I have never gone along with Cozier, thanks to the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, was Bangladesh. I am speaking from first-hand knowledge. You do not travel with a man and do not recognise his talent.
“I was very lucky to work with Tony Cozier for over 40 years and his standard pushed me to work even harder. To maintain the level that he had set. It was not just going along for the ride. It made me a better commentator to work shoulder to shoulder with Tony Cozier,” Perreira shared during his speech.
Perreira thanked everyone involved including the Barbados Cricket Association, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment. He mentioned that without the clubs, the tournament would not be possible.
“I have been enriched and touched at the way I have been treated at this special event. It is touching. I would again like to thank the Hamilton Lashley Human Development Foundation for inviting me and looking after me so well, it was an honour,” Perreira added.
Referencing a captain who stated that the average age of his team was 19, Perreira highlighted that without the tournament, the players within that age bracket under the age of 23, would not have had such a great opportunity to showcase their talents.
Special envoy on Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement in the Prime Minister’s Officer, Trevor Prescod, was in attendance and spoke about the outstanding talents he witnessed.
“It was good to witness the outstanding and creative talent that is emerging from within the local communities across Barbados and the entire region. This game is futuristic and we have seen some amazing talent here, especially after the last two years when the spirits of the people were a bit down. These young men have given us new energy, a rebirth of cricket in a post-Covid period.
“The competition clearly showed that we have men of equal character demonstrated today in cricket, that is the greatest tribute you could give to one such as Reds Perreira. The biggest honour you can give to a commentator, where the respect and admiration coming from the community, from the roots of the community itself.
“Many may say great things but the fact that many of us were saying great things, even before the tournament started, about how great Tony Cozier was and the important role he played and how he is etched in the history of cricket in the Caribbean along with Reds Perreira, they are the two best we have ever heard,” Prescod told those gathered.
“The Cozier and Perreira Cup is a manifestation of our respect for all the good work they have done across the region throughout the years as philosophers of sports,” he added.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
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