St. John’s Antigua- The Montserrat Cricket Association has acquired the services of Pigotts’ head coach Abdiel “Abdie” Hughes to prepare the Emerald Isle’s national side for this year’s Senior Leeward Islands cricket tournament, which is tentatively set to commence in May.

Hughes told OBSERVER Sports he accepted the invitation to coach Montserrat after has was contacted by president of the Montserrat Cricket Association, Gregory Willock, on Good Friday.

Hughes, who travelled to Montserrat on Easter Monday to start his work with the team, returned to Antigua on Wednesday night to coach Pigotts in Thursday’s Dave Joseph Parish League Limited Overs final against Mahico.

The coach returned to Montserrat on Friday evening to continue his work with the national team.

“Well, I was called Good Friday morning by president of Montserrat Cricket Association, Gregory Willock, to come and coach the national team of Montserrat and I gladly accepted the opportunity,” Hughes said.

“I travelled to Montserrat on Easter Monday and started doing some work with the Montserrat national team players on Tuesday. But because Pigotts was in the final on Thursday I travelled back to Antigua on Wednesday evening and will return to Montserrat on Friday to continue my programme.”

Hughes said he has agreed to work with the Montserrat Cricket Association for two months in the first instance with the possibility of extending his stint for possibly up to three years.

“Well first up it’s for two months, from this month into June to the end of the three-day tournament then they will review it and then possibly extend the contract for maybe three years,” Hughes said.

“I must say the players are very enthusiastic, the turn-out has been very good and it all looks well.”

Hughes said he is quite elated with the opportunity since coaching a national team other than Antigua & Barbuda is a dream fulfilled.

“Well, I must say that this is a dream come true for me. Since I started coaching first class cricket I always had my eye on Montserrat or Anguilla, two of the lesser teams in the Leewards, where I could prove my worth instead of wanting to coach Antigua who has always been winning,” Hughes said.

“I wanted to go outside of Antigua and show that I have something I could put out there on the market.

“I was very elated when I got the call and I can assure you I will not let down myself, much less Antigua and Montserrat.”

Hughes took over as coach of Pigotts last year after ending a four-year coaching stint with PIC Insurance Liberta.