Fresh off completing his assistant coaching role with the Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), John Eugene, head coach of the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre (HPC), has returned to local cricket duties, bringing with him a mix of candid reflection on his recent franchise experience and cautious optimism for the island’s cricketing future.
The 2025 CPL tournament ended in underperformance for the Kings, the 2024 title holders. The side failed to qualify for the playoff round, with the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons ultimately claiming their first-ever championship title. In a frank assessment of the campaign, Eugene acknowledged that the season fell well short of expectations. “We must be honest and say that it was a disappointing season,” he admitted. “We didn’t really execute the plans that we set about, and obviously, that cost us a lot of crucial matches, hence we were not in the playoffs.”
Despite the underwhelming result, Eugene emphasized that the stint provided irreplaceable professional growth. Working alongside global top-tier cricketers and sharing coaching duties with legendary West Indian cricket figures Daren Sammy, the Kings’ head coach, and Floyd Reifer, gave him invaluable insight that he will bring back to Saint Lucia’s local development programs. “The experience out there is valuable and it’s a lot of learning,” he added.
Back at the HPC, Eugene was quick to praise his assistant coaches Dalton Polius and Larry Edward for maintaining high energy and consistent training standards throughout his extended absence for the CPL. He reported that young domestic cricketers have turned in encouraging performances in the ongoing Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Super 50 tournament, with several emerging players stepping up to deliver notable scores.
Eugene noted that while Saint Lucia already has a deep pool of raw cricketing talent and has held nearly year-round competitive matches in 2025, consistent execution under pressure remains an area for refinement for young local players. “For me, it’s just a matter of continuous development from the players,” he said. “There are great opportunities ahead for everybody to put up their hands. The guys really must look to capitalise on these tournaments. … But all in all, it’s good that we have had cricket for almost a whole year. So it’s good that the guys are well on their way playing.”
Looking ahead to October, Eugene is eagerly anticipating a transformative development for Saint Lucia cricket: the Windward Islands Volcanoes men’s professional franchise is set to relocate its headquarters to the island, with an initial three-year hosting agreement. Eugene says the partnership between the Volcanoes franchise and the HPC will open new doors for local athletes and coaching staff alike, ranging from cross-training opportunities to pathways for talented HPC players to join the professional franchise setup.
For Eugene, the arrival of the Volcanoes is more than just an administrative change – it is a catalyst that will push local players to raise their standards and learn from a full-time professional program. “I want to view it as an opportunity, or somewhat of a sort of motivation, for our players to step up their game, look at the programme, and see how best they can improve and how best they can go about getting better,” he explained. “For me, it’s a massive opportunity, and for all involved really; coaches and everybody. So, we look forward to the Volcanoes being here.”