Ambrose: Falcons ignored the doubters and delivered the championship
Key Points(5)
- Antigua and Barbuda Falcons assistant coach and bowling consultant Sir Curtly Ambrose insists their historic Caribbean Premier League title was never beyond their expectations, even when few outside the franchise believed they could qualify for the playoffs.
- The Falcons turned that skepticism into the biggest prize available on Sunday night, overpowering Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets at Kensington Oval to secure their first CPL championship.
- For Ambrose, however, the victory was less a shock than the fulfillment of a belief that had been present from the beginning.
- “When we started the CPL tournament, not many gave us a chance to qualify, let alone win the championship.
- They called other franchises, but we were happy with that because being underdogs means we were under no pressure to perform.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons assistant coach and bowling consultant Sir Curtly Ambrose insists their historic Caribbean Premier League title was never beyond their expectations, even when few outside the franchise believed they could qualify for the playoffs.
The Falcons turned that skepticism into the biggest prize available on Sunday night, overpowering Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets at Kensington Oval to secure their first CPL championship.
For Ambrose, however, the victory was less a shock than the fulfillment of a belief that had been present from the beginning.
“When we started the CPL tournament, not many gave us a chance to qualify, let alone win the championship. They called other franchises, but we were happy with that because being underdogs means we were under no pressure to perform.
“We knew that we had a great team that is capable of not only winning games, but winning the championship, and for 2026, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are the CPL champions,” Sir Curtly said.
No pressure, just belief
Ambrose credited the franchise's success to a collective approach that allowed the players to perform without the burden of outside expectations.
Head coach Nixon repeatedly emphasized the importance of keeping pressure at a minimum, while the coaching staff worked to maintain unity and enjoyment throughout the campaign.
“Coach Nixon always stressed that: no pressure. We work hard, we play together as a team, we enjoy what we do and we reap the benefits,” Ambrose said.
The Falcons' approach was reinforced by a belief that became a recurring theme within the group.
“As Ibis [Steve Freeland] always says, ‘Believe nah man!’ We kept believing, and we knew we had what it takes.”
That belief ultimately carried the Falcons through the decisive stages of the tournament and into Sunday's final, where they completed their championship run in emphatic fashion.
A birthday celebration to remember
The triumph also arrived at an especially fitting time for Ambrose.
The West Indies fast-bowling great celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday, just one day after helping the Falcons secure their maiden CPL title.
He described the achievement as the perfect birthday present while also acknowledging the contribution of the wider coaching staff and the support received from Antigua and Barbuda.
For Ambrose, the championship belonged to the entire Falcons community.
“And, of course, our Prime Minister [Gaston Browne] is here, the other ministers of government are here, the Barbados Prime Minister [Mia Mottley] is here as well, so it’s a total celebration, and I’m loving it,” Sir Curtly said.
The Falcons' title has now transformed them from one of the competition's underestimated franchises into CPL champions, a journey Ambrose believes was built on hard work, unity and, above all, an unwavering conviction that they belonged at the top.
