Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Information, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange (right), greets Jamaica cricket captain, Chris Gayle, at Monday night's reception at Sabina Park. Looking on is Jamaica Cricket Association president, Jackie Hendricks. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

OLIVIA 'BABSY' Grange, the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, hailed Jamaica's wining KFC Cup team for breaking the eight-year drought at the regional level at a special reception at Sabina Park, on Monday night.

Speaking at the reception, which was hosted by the Jamaica Cricket Association at The Club Lounge, North Stand, for the KFC Cup and Under-19 winning one-day teams, Grange, said it felt good to see the teams return to their winning ways.

"This is a really very special moment - when you keep losing and then you suddenly win," Grange said.

"It is a very special moment to win ... don't you feel good," she asked the group of KFC Cup players, minus Jerome Taylor, who was ill.

"Just when we thought we had forgot how to win, we won the KFC Cup. I want to congratulate the team ... you have made us very proud. It was a tremendous team effort; every single player played his part," she said.

Grange also made a special appeal to the sponsors, while hailing the contribution from KFC.

"I am appealing to the sponsors, KFC, I am sure you don't want to miss this opportunity to go down in history as the company that ensure that cricket was revived and it will continue to live."

Meanwhile, West Indies Cricket Board president, Julian Hunte, joined Grange in congratulating captain Chris Gayle and the Jamaica team.

He also thanked KFC, saying "without them, it would not be possible for us to have this competition".

Cannot succeed

Hunte also begged sponsors to come forward and support the sport.

"Looking at the future of West Indies cricket, we do need the sponsors to come forward in order to assist to rebuild," Hunte said.

"In today's cricket you cannot succeed, you cannot organise the game, unless you have sponsors like KFC," he said.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we will prevail if we do the work that is required of us at this time in retooling West Indies cricket," he continued.

Gayle, in his address, thanked Grange for her inspirational words, the Under-19 team for winning the TCL Group one-day title and coach Junior Bennett for the hard work he put in, but added, it was a team effort that brought them success.

"We have to commend the management team for the way they went about this KFC Cup tournament. We planned well. The players, all credit goes to you guys, thanks for the support," he said, but warned "The hard work doesn't stop here."