As the Lloyd family mourn the loss of the former West Indies cricket captain’s daughter, the Friends of Former Guyana Cricketers (FFGC), is expressing its utmost regret at the sudden death.
Clive Lloyd. Photo: windiescricket.com
Chantel Jeanesse Lloyd-Owens is survived by her father Clive and other family members. She died this week in North Carolina after an abrupt illness.
President of the FFGC Derrick Kallicharran said Chantel’s death is shocking and he is extending his sincerest sympathy on behalf of the group to Clive Lloyd and his family.
“I know Clive is a man of solid foundation, but even he would’ve been setback with the death of his daughter. I know he knows that the FFGC will give him and his family, the strongest support possible in this time of grief,” said Kallicharran, who played under Lloyd’s captaincy for Guyana in the 1980s.
Kallicharran added that he spoke to Lloyd on Thursday after the latter flew into the country from Guyana where he is heading the Interim management Committee, charged with restructuring the administration of the country’s cricket.
Lloyd-Qwens was 41 years old and was born and bred in the United States and was living North Carolina at the time of her death. She will be buried on Saturday March 24th in New York at Greenfield Cemetery. The viewing will be at St George’s Church at 319 Front Street in Hempstead on Friday.
The FFGC has been negotiating with Lloyd to be part of its next fund raising activity – a dance scheduled for April 7, where it is planned to have him and another West Indies star player of the 1980s, have photo opportunities and sign autographs with patrons, at the dance .
Meanwhile plans for the FFGC’s trip to Guyana to honor its first recipient is well on stream. The late Andrew Lyght, the dashing ex opening batsman will be honored through two matches involving FFGC members and a presentation to a family member.
Originally planned for last year, the trip to Guyana was postponed and will now be held in July.
It will coincide with the Demerara Cricket Club’s 100th anniversary celebrations after the FFGC event was accepted as part of the club’s week of activities. Ex Guyana players and group members including Milton Pydanna, Sydney Matthews, Ray Joseph, Kallicharran, Terry Etwaroo ,Leslaine Lambert and Linden Fraser will be in action in two limited overs games against selected teams of Guyana based players, to mark Lyght’s contribution to the Guyana team. He was also a lifelong DCC player. Other top players of the past including Victor Benjamin, Cuthbert Mendonca and Nigel Harper will also be playing. One match will be played in Georgetown and the other at the famous Albion ground in Berbice.
A special Andrew Lyght award will be made available by the FFGC for an outstanding DCC player annually at the club’s presentation awards. A monetary donation will be given to Lyght’s family and other benefits in the player’s name for DCC players are being worked out by the group.
The FFGC group will spend one week in Guyana, leaving on July 13 to return on July 21st. Members have until April to confirm their participation for the trip and interested cricket fans from around the United States are invited. Contact with the FFGC can be made by dialing telephone numbers 917-573-8078 or 718-840-7600. A special reduced group fare negotiated with EZ Charter service will enable the participants to fly to Guyana.
The FFGC’s next meeting will be held on Sunday at 215 Jamaica Ave, Queens, where plans for the tour will be upgraded.