Hero's welcome for Cyd Gray
Tobago News Cyd Gray, one of the two Tobago players who wee members of the Soca Warriors in their history-making victory against Bahrain to qualify for the 2006 World Cup received a hero's welcome on his return home, earlier in the week.
The other Tobago player was none other than this country's and region's most celebrated and renowned footballer who is the captain of the Soca Warriors, Dwight Yorke. However, because of his professional commitment, he was unable to return home to be celebrated for his role in their success.
Gray who was accompanied by another Soca Warrior in Denzil Theobald was greeted by a band of jubilant supporters on his arrival at Crown Point International airport and paraded from Crown Point to Delaford and back to his primary school alma mater, Roxborough Anglican.
During the journey he made various stops and signed autographs for school children and others who had lined the streets for his welcome home party.
At his alma mater, he enjoyed an entertaining cultural programme with some of the items being performed by school children. There were also addresses by Representative for the Area, Assemblyman and Secretary for Agriculture Hilton Sandy, Assistant Secretary for Sports Tracy Davidson, School Principal Ken Webster who was one of his former teachers, Roxborough Composite School Principal James Jack and one of his former classmates Ancil Toppin.
Gray gave a passionate response when he spoke, indicating that playing in the World Cup was his life's long dream and said that he hopes to secure a foreign contract after the World Cup. He then spent time with the youngsters offering them words of advice and signing autographs.
The celebrations were organised by his former football club, Roxborough Lakers and his alma mater Roxborough Anglican School.
Gray will also be celebrated by Roxborough Composite School today (Friday), his other alma mater and will be an honoured guest of the Tobago House of Assembly for their 25th anniversary celebrations.
He and Yorke will receive the Chief Secretary's Award which is the highest award that will be awarded at the THA's Awards function at Mason Hall Government High School on Saturday.
Tribute to Cyd Gray
Tobago NewsHundreds of villagers of Roxborough gave a hero's welcome to their village boy and Soca Warrior's defender Cyd Gray on Monday.
Gray who was accompanied by his teammate Densill Theobald arrived at Crown Point airport earlier in the morning where he was received by supporters of the Lakers Sports Club.
In a true motorcade style, Cyd and Desil was afforded the privilege to wave and greet pedestrian from a jeep and made several stops at pre-school and primary school along Windward Road to Roxborough. The village of Roxborough was cramped with schoolchildren from Cyd's alma mater, Roxborough Composite and Roxborough Anglican School.
Production came to a temporary halt as government offices and business places close their doors to pay tribute to the Cyd.
Later in the day at a function hosted by Lakers and Roxborough A.C. Primary at the Roxborough Anglican Auditorium, several prominent villagers paid tribute to him. Schoolteacher and Acting Principal Ken Webster recalled Cyd's primary school days at Roxborough. Several tokens were presented on behalf of school and the PTA. A Wall of Fame was later unveiled in his honour.
Representative for the area and Secretary of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment Hilton Sandy congratulated Cyd and Lakers Sports Club for placing Roxborough on the map.
Sandy also called on his colleague and Asst. Secretary of Sport and Youth Affairs Tracy Davidson to rename the renovated Roxborough Complex, "The Cyd Gray Sports Complex".
Roxborough Police Youth Club leader Collis Hazel who addressed the function, reminded the packed "Bass School" as it is popular known, that the village of Roxborough has been waiting a long for such a function.
Hazel recalled that 24 years ago Roxborough celebrated the victory of Claude Noel for bringing home the World Lightweight boxing title. "Ironically", Hazel said, "Cyd Gray wears the number 24, so while Trinidad and Tobago waited 16 years to qualify for the World Cup Finals, Roxborough has waited 24 years for its second world class sporting event of prominence."
The Roxborough Police Youth Club through its leader declared that one of the competitions in the popular Night Football knockout tournament would be named the Cyd Gray Knockout Finals. Hazel informed the crowd that efforts would be made to secure funding from corporate organisations to ensure a posse from Roxborough visit Germany to support the Soca warriors in June 2006.
A talented display of cultural items, including poems written by Cyd's teachers Sharon Anderson and Louisa Bess Hercules brought the gala function to an end.
TOBAGONIAN Cyd Gray (right) and Densil Theobald share honours among children in Tobago.
