Greene: four knights academy still on the cards

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The concept of having a cricket academy that embodies the qualities of four of the country’s legendary cricketers is not a dead one and will come to fruition.
This is the belief of Minister of Sports, EP Chet Greene, who sought to assure the public that the academy is closer than many think to becoming a reality. 
“It is work in progress but the hold-up with that, for some time, has been the presentation of the business plan. That is just about ready now, and so I am hoping to see action on the four knights’ academy very shortly, because as soon as that is ready we will have the four knights assembled. They will review that, give their [blessings] to it or otherwise and we will move forward,” Greene said.
Introduced following the 2014 general election, the initiative which was conceptualised using four of the country’s former international cricketers, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Richie Richardson and Sir Curtly Ambrose, has seen little to no movement over the last three years.
In May of last year, Greene had expressed disappointment over the slow to stagnant manner in which the planning of the touted academy was progressing.
Greene is confident that the initiative still has the support of all four former cricketers despite the setbacks.
“Not that I know of, the four cricketers have been very much a part of it, and I think like me, the four cricketers are very disappointed that it has not started. Like I said, the reasons given was the failure to produce a business plan. We have since engaged someone else to do the business plan and so I am looking forward to seeing that happen sooner rather than later,” the minister said.
Last year, Greene said a special committee had been tasked with getting the initiative off the ground.
The academy, according to initial reports, would first cater to the top young talents here in Antigua before branching out to the region and then internationally.
The four knights are also expected to play a pivotal role in the success of the academy, lending their expertise and knowledge of the game.

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