ACA reaffirms continued confidence in Sir Vivian Guyana Chronicle March 4, 2000 ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CANA) - Following is a statement issued by the Antigua Cricket Association yesterday on the West Indies Cricket Board's non-appointment of Sir Vivian Richards as coach of the West Indies cricket team. "The Antigua Cricket Association wishes to express and affirm its continued confidence in Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards as a cricketing giant with a genuine love of the game and a commitment to West Indies cricket. We know that had he been given the opportunity to impart his vast knowledge and skills as coach of the West Indies team, he would have worked tirelessly to restore pride and excellence to West Indies cricket. It must be recognised that the rejection of his application for the position of coach must have been a disappointing one for him, and for those of us who support his application. We therefore, condemn the manner in which the rejection was communicated to him by a junior staff member in the WICB Secretariat. We consider this to have been a major cause of embarrassment and a disrespectful and contemptuous way to treat a West Indian hero. We welcome the recent public apology by the WICB, but fear that the delay in dealing with this matter has negated the effect of the intended message. We therefore believe that further goodwill in this matter should be shown. To this end, we wish to call on the WICB to hastily arrange a meeting with Sir Vivian Richards at which this matter can hopefully be satisfactorily resolved in the interest of the game, his many supporters and the West Indian public in general."