After winning the 100m sprint at Paris 2024, when asked, how did you overcome the Sha’Carri Richardson’s excitement and dominated the Event, the Saint Lucian fastest woman in the world, Julien Alfred replied, “Lucia Pressure!”
It was that “Lucia Pressure” that humbled the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and their fans and fanatics at the Providence Stadium on Sunday night 06 October 2024.
And, the result – the St. Lucia Kings (SLK) was finally crowned Caribbean Premier League (CPL) King in Georgetown, Guyana, South America after 11 years in waiting (for the Coronation).
Now, they are (arguably) undisputed King and Champions having beaten the defending Champions, the GAW consecutively (that is, in the Qualifier on 02 October 2024 and in the Finals on 06 October 2024) on their favorite home-ground – in a 17,000-capacity arena with standing-room-only and seized by a rapturous sea-of-yellow and red!
When the Kings were crowned in South America on 06 October 2024, Saint Lucia (affectionately known as “Lucia”), became two-time Champions in two major sporting events with a global reach in one year – now, that’s “Lucia Pressure.”
How did the “Lucia Pressure” manifest itself in the 2024 CPL? Simply put – “teamwork, strategy and performance.”
The Kings were strategic in their approach to CPL 2024. Firstly, as a close-unit, they believed that 2024 was the year for their Coronation – the self-belief, fired by the domination of Julien Alfred at Paris 2024, when she overcame the odds and became the fastest woman in the world (winning the 100metre Finals in 10.72 seconds beating her rival, American, Sha’Carri Richardson by more than a stride).
Secondly, despite the lack of fan-support in the Providence Stadium on that Sunday night (there were only a few daring Saint Lucia Kings fans waving the Saint Lucia Blue), the Kings knew that they were going into the Contest with a psychological advantage, having defeated their opponent twice on the same ground.
Thirdly, the choice to bowl first at the opponent was tactically correct. The SLK took quick wickets to remove the GAW top order. In the 18th over, the GAW were seven wickets down with only 97 runs on the board. But thanks to two dropped catches which resulted in an additional 37 runs, they managed 138 at the end of the allotted 20 overs.
When the SLK batted, the GAW were cruising to a second CPL Finals victory with the SLK at 73 runs for the loss of 4 wickets at the end of the 15th over – slowly slipping towards defeat.
THEN entered the Kings’ Saint Lucian Head Coach, Daren Sammy who changed the momentum by applying the “Lucia Pressure.” He sent a message to the struggling batters, Jones and Chase (who had to score 65 off 30 balls). That “Riot Act” fired the “men in blue”, and they went on a rampage: boundaries and sixes leaked like never before, and the GAW bowler, Moeen Ali was taken for 6, 6, 4, 6, 4 in a 27-run six-ball over that turned the game on its head. Some 65 runs were hammered off only 20 deliveries, giving the SLK their first CPL title (and their worthy Crown).
SLK beat GAW by six wickets with 11 balls remaining.
I have always emphasized that Management is a “make-or-break” factor of production. The highly visible and animated Daren Sammy (with a mix of Carib and French blood) called upon Jones and Chase to apply the “Lucia Pressure” – and game was over! (and, how privileged was I to have been there to witness, experience the ebb and flow, and to celebrate the historic event with the players).
Oh, what a year for Saint Lucia – the Land with the only “Driving Volcano,” the “Twin Pitons” and two Noble Laurates (Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott)!
The Message has gone forth to the world – Lucia is “Simply Beautiful”; “Naturally Talented” and a “Champion” amongst Nations.
Fell the “Lucia Pressure!”