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 April 15- 18, 2022 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.