CAVE HILL, Barbados – Newly-appointed head coach Pedro Collins said motivating a talented, but mostly inexperienced group of players and managing expectations will be two of the biggest challenges facing defending champions Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners, when Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup opens on November 6.

Collins was in charge for the second half of the Marooners’ run to the title last year, following the elevation of fellow former Barbados and West Indies teammate, Floyd Reifer to roles in the West Indies Men’s senior team.

The 43-year-old former Barbados and West Indies left-arm fast bowler will preside over a squad missing up to nine players that formed its winning nucleus last season, requiring Collins and his support staff to instil the same values and culture that led to success.

It will also be a new experience for the Marooners, entering a regional tournament as the defending champions and no longer being viewed as an underdog, they are huge expectations from everyone concerned with the team, not just the players and support staff, but others in the university system, like UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who gave birth to the concept of the side playing in senior regional tournaments.

Fortunately for the Marooners, they just have to practically get over the same hurdles that they did last year. They have been pooled for this year’s tournament with fierce territorial rivals Barbados Pride, as well as regional powerhouse Jamaica Scorpions, hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes and invitational team Canada in Group “A” which will be played at Warner Park and Conaree Sports Complex in St. Kitts.

Except for the Canadians, it’s the same group of teams that the Marooners faced last year and beat to get into the Final Four, so it will be intriguing to see if Collins and his team can come up with a similar formula of success to get over their opponents.

Collins spoke to CWI Media ahead of the competition and said it will be important to get the players to believe in themselves and fight hard, as the Marooners look to put up a strong defence of the title. . .

On what to expect from the Marooners as the countdown to the start of the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup continues:

First of all, fans can expect a team that will play positively and fearlessly, as it looks to defend its title. We are the defending champions and we expect everyone to come very hard at us. We have got to be ready for the fight. We have been preparing well. There are a lot of changes to the squad from last year – we are missing around nine players from the last set-up – but this means another group of players get an opportunity showcase their talent, so we are looking forward to a good, exciting tournament.

On how the experience from last year will impact how he manages this season:

I got to learn the players. I got to understand each individual and what drives them. I want to be able to use this to motivate the players to play the fearless brand of the game we played last year and help to create a relaxed environment that allows everyone to have fun. We want to take it one game at a time. Last time, we planned well, we executed, so hopefully, this young bunch can do the same.

On how much more pressure is there on your team to deliver once again:

There is a lot of pressure. We are missing the nucleus of last year’s team and it will be tough on the young players, but they appear willing to take on the challenge. We have a few practice games and mocked up some game scenarios, and they seem to be hitting the targets. It will be a bit of pressure, but we will work to reassure them that it’s just another game, though it may be tougher than what they may be accustomed to playing. This is the ‘big time’ now and they will need to step up. We do not expect miracles, but we want them to be positive and be ready for the challenge.

On how he will manage the expectations of everyone concerned with the team:

We are trying to keep things simple. The people around us, like UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor, Sir Hilary Beckles, understand that the programme around us is about developing players. It’s not every time and every title that we are going to win. Once we keep developing players and produce players, I am sure they are going to be happy. Looking around the Caribbean, the franchises have snapped up around nine of the players from last year’ squad and that is healthy for our system. It is good to see we have developed players and they have now branched out into different franchises. Hopefully, they too, can have a good tournament and can end up in the West Indies team.

On the value of Carlos Brathwaite leading the team again:

He’s a very important piece of the puzzle. Last year, he was very instrumental in calming down the players, reinforcing situational awareness, not just on the field, but off the field, he was a leader. The players had fun together. We always tried to do things as a team, and he brought that calmness to the group. No one looked up to him do everything, but everybody knew what they had to do, everybody played their role and did them to the best of their ability, which made life easier for the coaches. All the boxes were ticked and this what we are looking to do again. Team bonding is very important in the short space of time we will be together. The quicker we bond, the better for the team.

On how he would describe the squad and where the strength in it lies:

Having worked with the squad so far, the bowling has really stepped up to the plate, so I believe once our batsmen can put 250 on the board, I think we have the bowling power to win games. We always stress on our fielding. I think we had the best fielding unit last year in our group. We aim to save between 20 to 25 runs in the field every game, so once the players can do this, things will go well.

On managing such a diverse group of players:

It’s about getting a good understanding of the players. It’s about spending time learning the players and knowing the players. That’s important. It’s not always easy. You may have a group of players from the same territory and they want to hang together, but it’s about trying to get them to mix and to do things together with other players. We did a lot of team activities last year and that brought the players closer.

On his side’s opponents in Group “A” which are the same to last year’s, except Canada:

We are playing in a different location and this will be a factor. The other teams will all have a point to prove, as we beat most of them handsomely last year. Once we tick our boxes, however, and be disciplined on the field right through, bat, bowl, field well, put a decent total on the board, things can happen. We just have to get the players believing that they can do it, fight hard and we will give the other teams a hard time.

On how he would define success other than winning the tournament:

Success will include executing, entertaining the crowds and playing tough. At the end of it all, if we can prove ourselves and show that we are as good and as competitive as other teams, and we can get the CCC group back into the West Indies Championship (4-Day matches) that will be a great success for us.

• Source: CWI Media