Shimron Hetmeyer – in pursuit of a Windies cricketing career

“OVER the next five years, I will be working hard at my game with the hope of gaining selection to represent the West Indies senior team,” stated the jubilant National and West Indies youth opening batsman, Shimron Odilon Hetmeyer, after graduating from the Berbice High School as the Best Male Athlete for the 2012/13 academic year.

With good academic performances at the 2013 CXC, CSEC, .the versatile East Canje, Berbice lad, who is the last of four siblings of GuySuCO Engineer, Gladston Hetmeyer, has no immediate plans to pursue an academic career or skilled profession; his only ambition is to become an internationally recognised cricketer.
“For now, I will just be playing cricket on a full-time basis; I enjoyed playing football for my school as a striker but, I will no longer be playing that game at a competitive level,” he told Chronicle Sport.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Hetmeyer, who celebrates his 17th birthday on Boxing Day, secured 6 subjects at the 2013 CSEC; he obtained a Grade 1 in Physical Education, Grade 2 in Agricultural Science (Double Award), English ‘A’, Social Studies and Integrated Science.
When asked how he managed to cope with studies for examinations while participating in sports, he said: “At times, I never really balanced sports with my studies but, I had lots of advice from my parents, teachers and friends. Their advice paid off for me in the end.”
The aspiring international cricketer, who recently represented the West Indies Under- 19 team in the seven-match One Day series against Bangladesh, said that he is setting high standards when it comes to his ‘game’ and sees Tagenarine Chanderpaul (son of West Indies middle-order batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul), as a perfect opening partner who offers lots of inspiration when it comes to building an innings and assessing batting conditions.
“I always like to play alongside Tage (Tagenarine), he’s the best opening partner I’ve had in my career so far; he’s a real inspiration,” he admitted.
Hetmeyer, who represents the Young Warriors team at the club level in East Berbice, said that he is blessed to have the support of his coach, club mates and village folks to offer him words of encouragement in pursuit of his dreams.
He then advised other young aspiring sportsmen and women: “Stay in school and if you are pursuing a career in any sporting discipline, just balance yourself and approach everything you do with the right attitude. You may not always meet the best of people but you always need to demonstrate the best behaviour and be tolerant.”
(By Michael Khan)
guyana chronicle