Senator Shaquan O'Neil has made a financial donation to A Chance to Shine Academy, the youth cricket programme he credits with shaping his development as a young athlete. According to Antigua News Room, the senator presented the contribution during a visit to the academy, describing it as an act of giving back to an organisation that played a formative role in his life before he entered public service.
O'Neil said many of the values he carries today were instilled on the cricket field under the guidance of coach Abdiel Hughes, whom he described as instrumental in his early cricketing journey. He credited Hughes with helping him progress through the youth ranks and earn selection for both the Leeward Islands Under-15 team and Antigua and Barbuda's Under-15 and Under-17 national squads.
During the visit, O'Neil presented the donation directly to Hughes and to the young players currently participating in the programme. He praised the coach for continuing to invest his time and expertise in developing the next generation of cricketers and nurturing leadership among the nation's youth.
"Thank you, Coach, for the impact you continue to make," O'Neil wrote in a social media post following the visit.
The A Chance to Shine Academy provides cricket training and mentorship opportunities for young people across Antigua and Barbuda.
