ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – West Indies Check head coach Andre Coley says the tragic killing of Gibbs Williams has left a “massive gap” within the regional cricket fraternity.
The Jamaica and West Indies Below-19s squad supervisor was gunned down within the car parking zone of a medical facility in his native Jamaica on Friday after wrapping up an appointment.
Police have dominated out theft as a motive and are persevering with investigations.
“He had such a big impact throughout a large cross-section of Jamaica in sports activities – with youths, in addition to female and male athletes, and he made an amazing contribution within the cricket area,” stated Coley, a fellow Jamaican who labored alongside Williams at numerous ranges.
“He was all the time energetic and constructive in every thing he did. He loved his work, and he impacted the lives of so many individuals positively.
“He leaves a giant gap that will probably be tough to fill, however we thank him for his large contribution.”
Williams, 55, was a part of the administration unit that oversaw Jamaica’s seize of the double within the Cricket West Indies Below-19 Championship in St Vincent and the Grenadines final August.
He additionally toured Sri Lanka final month with the West Indies Below-19 squad, which confronted the hosts in a pink and white-ball sequence.
West Indies Below-19s lead selector, Robert Haynes, labeled Williams a “devoted servant of cricket” who cherished younger individuals.
“The complete cricket household is in mourning. Gibbs Williams was a devoted servant of cricket. He had a ardour for the sport and gave all he needed to see its progress and growth,” stated Haynes, a former Jamaica captain and West Indies all-rounder.
“He cherished to see younger individuals obtain nice issues and enhance their lives and livelihood. He earned the respect of everybody he got here into contact with as a result of he confirmed respect to everybody.”
West Indies Below-19s head coach Rohan Nurse, who toured Sri Lanka with Williams, additionally underscored the depth of the administrator’s contribution to the regional panorama.
“Gibbs might carry individuals collectively. He commanded respect along with his demeanor and his strategy,” stated Nurse.
“Now we have misplaced somebody who had a imaginative and prescient for the sport within the West Indies and somebody all the time prepared to place the gamers first.
“It was a pleasure to work with him on the current tour of Sri Lanka. He ensured he created an surroundings the place the gamers might blossom and enhance.”
Former Jamaica and West Indies left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, now an assistant coach with Jamaica Scorpions, referred to as Williams “an amazing human being.”
“I’m saddened. I’m blown away. He was a pleasant particular person, a pleasant human being, all the time there that will help you,” the Jamaica Observer quoted Miller as saying.
“I ship my condolence to all, together with his household. He was an amazing human being. He was an amazing cricket lover. Cricket will miss Gibbs Williams.
“I keep in mind after we used to play, he was the coach for the nationwide group, and Gibbo was that particular person who would all the time lead by instance. He believed in health, and he believed in a wholesome way of life.”
Williams was additionally the vice-principal of Jamaica’s GC Foster School of Bodily Training & Sport.
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