About Us
BRIEFING ON LIBERTA SPORTS CLUB
Founded in 1991 under the banner “Liberty and Togetherness”, the Liberta Sports Club (LSC) has risen to become one of the most recognized and organized Sports Club in Antigua and Barbuda.
With an average of over 100 individual members annually, this Sport club has produced top national, regional and International personalities and is seeking to build on it’s foundation to become more visible and professional.
In Cricket, Kenny Benjamin and Eldine Baptiste have played One-day Internationals and Test Cricket for the West Indies and both remain professional coaches.
The Walsh brothers Vaughn and the late Hayden along with McChesney Simon, Ricky Christopher who played for young west Indies in 93 and 94 and Curtis Roberts played for the Leeward Island in the Regional Cricket. Wilden Cornwall who is presently the club’s captain is still one of the pillars in Leewards Cricket.
Meanwhile, Audwin (one of the Walsh brothers), Chester Joseph, Kenyata Joseph, Kadeem Phillip, Regan Wilson and Rahkeem Cornwall have all represented Leewards Island at under 15 and 19 levels. All five players are now representing the National Team in the Leeward Island Tournament. Kadeem and Rahkeem are current national players.
Our latest find is Avia Christian a 14 year old allrounder who was selected for the Eastern Caribbean under 13 Team and plays for the Antigua under 15 team as well.
FOOTBALL is also a dominant Sport and the Liberta team has provided Antigua and Barbuda with in excess of ten (10) national players. They include brothers Deon “Pope” Spencer, Chester Joseph and Glenroy “Duga” Andrew. Rexy Rhodes, Joseph “Moco” Ralph Marvin “Binkay” Simom, Todge Charles, Cint Martin, Clint Brookes and Wazym Williams.
VOLLEYBALL is a growing Sport that the has been reviving with the Annual International Tournament which started in 1994. The Liberta Sports Club invitational, at that time attracted all the leading teams in Antigua. Meanwhile the Liberta male and female teams have also produced a few national players, who played in the Regional Tournament.
Liberta had a Basketball team in the National (ABABA) League. This was not quite been a success story but could well become a success story in the next few years.
NETBALL AND ATHLETICS though, need some attention in our community, particularly in the contest that the community produced medal winning teams and individuals in the 1970’s and 80’s. The Sport club will be embarking on an effort to revive these sports and restore them to high level.
The Liberta Sports Club (LSC) considers Sports as an avenue for development of its youth and needed recreation and comfort for the adults in our community and nation wide. This presents an alternative to the ills of the society as we seek to provide ongoing programmes.
LSC now have an under development programme for cricket. Kenny and Winston Benjamin are the coaches. An under 13 and 16 football programme. Curtis Charles and Rowan (Porridge) Benjamin lead the charge in this area. Alister Benjamin is incharge of volleyball, Martha Shaw netball and Lance Browne basketball.
Our under 13 football team is the national champions and out cricket team sponsored by PIC Insurance won five of eight finals they competed in during 2008/09 seasons.
CONCLUSION:
With Tourism the major revenue earner responsible for approximately 80% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) both directly and indirectly, linkage between tourism and other economic sector are eminent in maintaining a vibrant economy.
The establishment of a proper Recreational and Sports Centre on this section of the island, could go a long way in enhancing and streamlining sports tourism as further outlined in Chapter 3.
With the efforts of the Community, private sector and government, proper sport facility could see an improvement to sport in the Community and a field developed to the level of regional standard – with also economics and financial benefits to the Community.