By Sham Ali | Photo Gallery
(Celebrating 45th Anniversary):- Cosmos has gone where few clubs have ever gone before. They have celebrated forty five years as a cricket club in fine style at the elegant Liberty Palace Banquet Hall last Saturday evening. Undoubtedly, it was a celebration of epic proportions full of warmth, love and camaraderie, and one that will be remembered by all of Cosmos members over the last forty-five years.
Cosmos has written its history in many small ways over the last four and a half decades, and we have come to appreciate and admire the embedded class and humility and richness that has fashioned the club’s journey over the years. Those sentiments were in abundance as past members expressed how proud they were to see that the club is still going strong, and that the youths have taken the batton to new heights.
The evening was celebrated in so many ways by past and current members and it was clearly evident and refreshing to see that Cosmos youths are leading the way, when Ryan Ganesh, Cosmos captain, made his way to the podium to call the event to order. He was followed by heartfelt invocation from Antanio Rooplall, whom we thought was taking the time to score another century.
The official welcome to Cosmos 45th Anniversary Presentation Dinner and Dance was delivered by the dapper-looking fourteen years old Alvin Gobin. He was calm, confident, and impressive in every syllable of the word and when he said that Cosmos is not just a cricket club, but a family where we look out for eachother, and he made special mention to auntie Faizah for her guidance and advice. The audience gave him a rousing applause when he said the one day he will be the president of Cosmos. Way to go youngman.
Devindra Balgobin, another of Cosmos young guns, highlighted some of the activities of the club; their donations to the children’s hospital, the annual coat drive to help the homeless, feeding and providing necessities for the girls orphanage in Guyana, and Cosmos college stipend for their members, were just a few of the club’s activities, before he introduced the Master of Ceremony, Carl Bennett, who stuck with the boys through all of its challenges and whose commitment to Cosmos is unmatched.
Carl Bennett In his own indomitable style lighted up the atmosphere as he delivered the formalities with grace and class. Alvin Gobin was awarded the most promising player. The coveted top prizes went to Antanio Rooplall for most runs and Devindra Balgobin for 1st Runners-up and Yogeshwar Ramgobin 2nd Runners-up. The battle lines for most wickets were drawn until the last match with both men hoping to get a wicket to move ahead, but it was a tie between Junick Mingo and Towgeshwar Thakoordeen, with Ryan Ganesh and Alex Chunilall also tied in the Runners-up for wickets. In the Masters team, K. Persaud for most runs. Sunil Narine had an outstanding session with 2nd Runners-up in runs and most wickets. Aggrey Salmon got 2nd Runners-up in runs, and Gilbert Bartholomew for his 5-wicket haul. Tyrone Stewart, one of Cosmos’s premier fast bowlers, Shafiq Jadavji, and Clement Walsh spoke glowingly of their early years in Cosmos when they presented awards to Sunesh Wazid, Carl Bennett and Anil Seebarran for their continued support and dedication to Cosmos.
The evening was highlighted by three special Lifetime Achievement Awards to Sohan Dass, the former Guyana National Player, for his years of dedication and commitment to the game, and his ongoing work with the youths in Cosmos. Sohan is regarded as a role model to the boys. And then it was Ashmul Ali, a former Guyana and USA National Player, for his decades of service and leadership in Cosmos. He led Cosmos through the formative years and navigate the elements through challenging times. He epitomizes decency, humility and good leadership, the backbone of Cosmos, and he led team in the only way he knew, to do what is right. And to my surprise, there was an award for me. This young group are simply the best and I appreciate the recognition
We had two very lucky raffle winners in the audience for two 50” TV.
Cosmos flowers from Lucious Stems for the ladies is a very small token of our appreciation to a remarkable, fantastic, loving group of women in Cosmos; Auntie Faizah, Auntie Sherry, Anita, Sophie, Lisa, Priya, Donesh Mon and Sister, Yogi Mom and sister, Balgo Mom and sister, Anita mon and sisters, and all those who worked tirelessly to make the event a huge success, the best ever. A huge thank you to the management of Liberty Palace Banquet Hall for accommodated us with everything we needed and more.
Cosmos is now poised for better days, and this current group of Cosmos boys is of a different cut, humble and honest, and they are equipped with the will and determination to take the club forward. What a great group. These boys just continue to be impressive, and the deserved all the credit for putting on a memorable presentation. The sentiments form many of New York cricket fraternity was uniform, ‘they have not been to a more well attended and impressive cricket presentation.’ That is heartwarming to hear.
And so it was, a celebration of a cricket and a cricket club that started out from humble beginnings in the boogie-down Bronx at the historic Vancourtland Park, remained humble through the years, survived and arrived to celebrate in spectacular style their 45th Anniversary Presentation, Dinner and Dance as they dance the night away with a hall full of extra special people, especially our members from the 80’s and 90’s. Our thanks to Anil and Sono, and to all of our sponsors and supporters, friends and family who graced our 45th Anniversary celebration to make it a huge success. Keep up the good works boys. You are the best!
We will be on the road to play Philadelphia cricket club for a 10:30 start match to conclude our 2024 cricket season.