CGI MAPLE
Position last year: Third
Home ground: Trents
Captain: Renaldo Parris
Coach: Hendy Bryan
Manager: Henderson Archer (Acting)
In: Brian Corbin (Police), Callitos Lopez (Police)
Out: None
OVERVIEW: Maple turn a new page in their history with a new captain and manager looking to maintain their consistency of the past few seasons.
Club president Pedro Agard has stepped down from the captaincy and will play for the club for a 26th straight season only if needed.
Renaldo Parris, long identified as a successor, is back in the job he held some years ago when there was a feeling he was too young for the role, while experienced off-spinning all-rounder Shane Ramsay is the new vice-captain.
The club is yet to appoint a permanent manager to follow the late Barrington Yearwood Sr, a stalwart at Maple, who will aim to fittingly win a trophy in the first season since his departure.
While Agard doesn’t expect to play, the club has not been affected by any exits and will be boosted by the acquisition of batsman Brian Corbin and fast-bowling all-rounder Callitos Lopez, both moving over from the demoted Police.
Maple do not usually have the big names, but the all-round efforts of several of their players have highlighted their consistency.
EXPECTATIONS:
Pedro Agard (president): “We’re one of the few clubs to maintain a nucleus of about eight players for the last few years. We expect to be a threat and to be challenging for the Cup. We haven’t lost anyone and we’ve gained more firepower.
“The addition of Callitos Lopez will add impetus to an attack that has been mainly dependent on spin and Brian Corbin is a good bastman who can play any role.
“I’ve given up the captaincy because I think it is time for someone else to take Maple to the next step, but once the club needs me, I’ll be around.”
PREDICTION: Between second and fourth. If Agard is not playing, Maple will have a big hole to fill, but he has laid the groundwork in making the club a major force.
