The Covent Garden Secondary School cricket team, which is making preparations for its participation in this year’s Sir Garfield Sobers Invitational cricket tournament in Barbados, yesterday received a cheque valued $50,000, courtesy of Scotiabank.
The presentation took place at the school and members of the team, which includes national players, Shameer Fazul and Jagesh Bishoon, told Stabroek News that the under-19 tournament takes place in July this year and the school plans to send a 14-man squad, which will include four guest players, to Barbados. However the team is in dire need of financial assistance since it has over $2M in expenses to offset including airfare and accommodation.
The 14-man squad is currently training for the tournament, which it has won on three occasions, at the Diamond ground. Manager-Products and Markets, Jennifer Cipriani-Nelson who made the presentation on behalf of Scotiabank, said that the bank’s assistance is part of its Bright Futures programme.She said the programme channels monetary assistance towards the development of youths. She also noted that Scotiabank will assist with renovations to the school’s playfield so that the cricket team and the general student population can have a recreational area nearby which will keep them occupied during recess periods. Accepting the cheque on behalf of the team was fast bowler, Ricky Debydien, who along with other members of the squad, expressed appreciation to the bank for its gesture.The Covent Garden Secondary cricket team was unable to participate in last year’s tournament as a result of a lack of sponsorship and the team is appealing to corporate Guyana for assistance.