St. Lucia’s International Cricketer, Darren Sammy, who plays as a right-handed batsman and a fast-medium bowler, has praised DIGICEL for his personal development from since he was about 19/20 years old.
The famed cricketer, who was accompanied by his wife, Cathy, lauded the telecommunications company when he arrived in Anguilla for the second time, a week ago, on April 22, at the invitation of DIGICEL. His latest visit came shortly after he captained and led the West Indies Team to victory in the 2016 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 Tournament by beating England in the finals. He is the only captain to have won the World T20 twice, the first having been in 2012 against Sri Lanka.
“I have been part of the “DIGI family” for twelve years now. It has been a good relationship and I must say a happy marriage,” he commented. “I became the first St. Lucian to play cricket for the West Indies back in 2004, and I think it was around the same time that DIGICEL probably started launching in St. Lucia and the Caribbean. As a young, aspiring cricketer, coming on the scene, DIGICEL saw it fit to give me an endorsement. It was a good initiative to motivate the young people that once you believe and achieve, then you can be a role model to other people. Even then, DIGICEL was the bigger, better network and now they are making it very extraordinary.”
Sammy went on: “I was then 19/20 and the company’s assistance meant a lot to me. It was a good thing that in my contract with DIGICEL it had room for my own personal development. It was not only an endorsement by DIGICEL, but a way of helping me to develop as a person and as a cricketer [through public speaking, youth camps, and other sponsorships]. I was assured that financially I was being looked after…and that the more I excel, it would benefit both parties. That is why, after twelve years, I am still with DIGICEL despite so many other networks have come about. As I have said, it is a happy relationship which I am looking forward to continue. I think I want to have a life-time with DIGICEL.”
The 32-year-old successful cricketer further stated: “Kerchelle Charles, who was one of the Marketing Managers for DIGICEL in St. Lucia (and who is now in Anguilla as Head of Commercial), was also around at that time of my sponsorship. After winning the World Cup Championship, I now see that DIGICEL has a Champion of Value [promotion] and so the company has a way of making everything extraordinary. For me to come here as a champion, in the World T20, it is a pleasure to be in Anguilla and to meet the people, my sponsor, and to do some promotional work as well. As I said, it is all about my being part of the “DIGI family”.
Commenting on having led the West Indies Team to victory, Darren Sammy said: “I felt very proud and honoured to play with such dedicated and motivated men, and to be part of the first team to win the World T20 Cup for a second time. It is going to be a memorable moment and it is one I know my teammates and I will cherish. There is now quite a buzz in the Caribbean. West Indians are now walking with pride over the successes that the West Indies teams have had throughout the year and especially in the World Cup. I think it is a good feeling now in the Caribbean because cricket is one sport that can unify the region’s people. Once we perform and win, especially on the world stage, there is harmony in the Caribbean and so we are looking to capitalise on that.”
Ms. Kerchelle Charles, who introduced Sammy to staff members at DIGICEL Anguilla, commented: “I am very proud of him because I have known him for a while. He is like a brother from another mother. He has been a very good and humble DIGICEL ambassador. I used to work in St. Lucia and was part of the team which signed him on to DIGICEL. The fact that he is so humble, we were able to bring him to Anguilla and I am very proud to be part of the DIGICEL Anguilla team which brought down Sammy here. We have launched a Champion of Value Promotion and, as part of that, it is quite fitting to have a champion here in Anguilla when we are launching our promotion.”
