The Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) has expressed deep condolences following the tragic death of Vonde Bowers, a promising young cricketer and former national youth player. The 16-year-old was reportedly stabbed to death last Tuesday night.
Bowers was found with multiple stab wounds in Gray’s Farm by passersby and was rushed to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead. He was a fourth-form student at Ottos Comprehensive School and had recently represented Antigua and Barbuda’s Under-19 team during a tour of the United Kingdom (UK).
Beyond his national representation, Vonde Bowers was actively involved in local cricket.
He played for the Mahico Cricket Team in the Parish League, and also featured for both the Rising Sun Spartans and Tertiary Institutions and Schools in separate ABCA competitions.
ABCA president Leon ‘Kuma’ Rodney described Bowers’ passing as a significant loss to the cricketing community and expressed heartfelt sympathy to his family, friends, and teammates.
:On behalf of myself and the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association, I say condolences to the family of the young man, Mr Bowers. It’s sad, and one life lost is one life too many,” said Rodney on the Good Morning Jojo Sport Show as quoted by The Jamaica Gleaner.
“The young man has played Under-19s and he just came back with the squad that went to England. So, notwithstanding that the family is suffering the loss, but knowing that the young man was already making a contribution to the nation means that it is a national loss also, because we will never know how far he would have gotten with the cricket; so it’s a sad loss for everyone,” he added.
Rodney stated that the association provides counselling support for all young players selected for national duties.
“Every time we bring a youth team together we have sessions like those. I think it’s more holistic and it has to start within the family, the clubs. So, it’s a holistic situation and the whole development of youth cricket has to be holistic. When we have national teams, we always bring in people, especially at the youth level, to talk to the players,” Rodney added as quoted by Antigua Observer.
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