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“[…] Arima was always proud of this versatile son of the soil who hailed from a sporting family that also produced West Indies cricketer Larry Gomes, his younger brother, while his elder brother, the late Lester Gomes, who was well known in lawn tennis circles…”
The following is a tribute from ex-Arima Mayor Ashton Ford to former Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Sheldon Gomes, who passed away on 15 September 2020:
Let’s pay tribute to Sheldon Gomes who died in Vegas yesterday at his daughter’s home. Sheldon was an outstanding all rounder excelling in both cricket and football. A former student of Arima Boys’ Government primary school, Holy Cross College and Queen’s Royal College (QRC), Sheldon was an excellent footballer and forward who was labeled ‘Bound To Score’ for the latter two schools.
In cricket, which became his preferred game later in his sporting career, he went on to represent Trinidad and Tobago and was considered one of best fielders in the West Indies—having been chosen as 12th man on many occasions.
Arima was always proud of this versatile son of the soil who hailed from a sporting family that also produced West Indies cricketer Larry Gomes, his younger brother, while his elder brother, the late Lester Gomes, who was well known in lawn tennis circles. His father, Cecil Gomes, was a councillor in the Arima Borough Council in the 1950s.
The Gomes family lived a stone’s throw from the savannah off Pro Queen Street, which was commonly called ‘The Neighbourhood’.
The area produced athletes like West Indies cricketer and current coach Phil Simmons, who lived opposite the Gomes family, and other national sportsmen like Ainsley Armstrong and Anthony Husbands, as well as lawn tennis players like the Boyce and Auguste brothers, Brian and Brendon Bain and Gordon Draper, a former government minister whose father was a top administrator who nurtured many young people like me!
(Copyright Cricket.com.au)
There is much more to say about Sheldon, who was a gentle and humble person. He was 69 years old and would have celebrated his 70th birthday next month. He leaves to mourn his four children—two boys and two girls.
We salute you for your excellent contribution to sports in Arima and the country as a whole.
Rest In Peace my brother, you will always be loved and cherished.
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