GEORGE Cannonier’s fourth year as coach of St. George’s looks like being his most challenging, based not so much on last weekend’s thrashing at the hands of Southampton Rangers but the apathy shown by some of the club’s players to early-season training.But the heavy two-day loss to Rangers, in which the east enders were bowled out twice on the first day, did have some positives as a couple of youngsters were quite impressive in their first outings.

“We had a lot of inexperienced players, in fact one of the players, Ronnie Denbrook, did very well despite it being his very first game,” said Cannonier.

“He never played cricket before and had two very impressive innings. He is very raw, but he’s got the gist of things and just needs a little more training.” Denbrook is the grandson of former St. George’s Cup Match player Llewellyn Denbrook Sr.

Another player to impress Cannonier was 14-year-old Makai Simmons who also showed some promise in his first game, batting with determination and taking a good catch.

“I think he inspired even the experienced guys with his patience,” said the coach.

“We had a very inexperienced team, but I thought we did well considering the type of team we had. There are always some positives that come out of a loss and we saw a lot of potential in our players. In the two-day you always have weaker teams but there is always something you can take from it.

“We didn’t have much of a choice, because not too many guys have been out to training. The more experienced players have responsibilities and chose not to play and we were scrambling to make up a team because the under 16s also had a game on the Saturday. Another under 16 player who played was Akeem Trott who is one of our future players, he’s tall and has some ability. He bowls, bats and is a pretty good fielder.”

St. George’s were missing the likes of Gregg Foggo, Ryan Steede, Oronde Bascome and Jade Foggo last weekend, with Gregg Foggo preferring to play football in the Island Soccer League for the time being while his nephew, Oronde, had work commitments on the Saturday.

Cannonier admits he isn’t certain of Jade Foggo’s intentions, as the young spinner seems to have lost interest and hasn’t been training.

Both Foggo and Bascome are — or were — members of the Bermuda under 19 team with Bascome due to be the captain for overseas competition this summer. However, he has opted to play for St. George’s in the 50-overs league which begins this weekend, rather than turn out for the under-19s who are entered in that league. No doubt that decision is a reaction to the move by the Bermuda Cricket Board to withdraw funding for his scholarship in Wales and the manner in which it was handled in the media.

“I don’t necessarily agree with that (under 19) team in the league because they tried it once before and it failed,” said Cannonier.

“It is taking some of our youngsters away from us. I don’t see why they can’t play with their clubs and be monitored every week to see who is worthy of playing. I think it is a matter of gelling together as a team, which is what they are trying to achieve, and that is the best way to do it, I

suppose.”

The absence of players leaves St. George’s as underdogs against Somerset on Sunday and their coach wondering what sort of team he will field. Last year Cannonier was forced to play a few games himself because of shortages, but that won’t be the case this year, he insists.

“I don’t think I should be out there playing,” he said.

“For the last couple of years we have struggled to have pre-season training. Guys’ interest in training has dropped. We haven’t had a solid pre-season programme since the first year I was there, and you can see the difference. In that first year we had pre-season training and everything went well, we came second in the league and won the two-day competition.

“Now we don’t get guys out in pre-season and we start off slow. Any coach would want a victory in the first game but it’s difficult to achieve that. It’s puzzling to me why youngsters don’t want to come out training.”

Added Cannonier: “I seem to be more excited as a coach than them as players, but it doesn’t seem to be working with our youngsters. I tell them the game doesn’t favour anybody, but if it does it is the people who put more into it. You have to be committed, if not you shouldn’t even play.

“Sometimes when I leave home I would think ‘I’m going to work with this particular person in training’, but I get over there and he doesn’t even show up so I have to change my plans.”

With Noel Gibbons and Clay Smith coaching youth teams, the junior programme at St. George’s is off to a promising start and Cannonier is encouraged.

“I’m very proud of the youth programme, it’s running smoothly and we’re going to develop a couple of champions, especially in the under 13s. We have a lot of talent there. Emphasis should be put on the younger players, equip them with the right attitude and mentality and things will take care of itself in the end.”

The first round of the Central Counties is scheduled for tomorrow when champions Devonshire Rec. take on former powerhouse Western Stars at Devonshire Rec. At St. David’s, a 50-overs rescheduled match sees the under-19s make their league debut against Flatts.

A full schedule on Sunday has Cleveland playing the under 19s at Wellington Oval, Somerset hosting St. George’s, Southampton Rangers entertaining Flatts and St. David’s at home to Social Club in what should be the top match in the Premier Division.

In the First Division, Bailey’s Bay meet their tenants Leg Trappers at Sea Breeze Oval, Devonshire Rec. play Warwick, Somerset Bridge are at home to Willow Cuts and PHC travel to Police Field to meet Police.