The Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company’s (GT&T) 10/10 Softball tournament has exceeded expectations according to one of the organizers, Richard Sukhdeo.
He told Stabroek Sport yesterday that the registered teams have more than doubled from last year’s inaugural tournament. Sukhdeo called this “phenomenal” since “there has been an infusion of children, women and men” responding to be a part of the tournament, which has been pushed back from tomorrow’s original start to February 19 due to the inclement weather.
Sukhdeo noted that there are 1,224 teams, male and female, registered as opposed to 584 teams from last year. He indicated that there are just over 800 male teams.
According to Sukhdeo the tournament is serving as a vehicle to nurture community development and it was gratifying to see that persons and teams wanted to be a part of this process. “People are now getting to focus their energy in a more structured manner, vendors are getting to sell their products and everyone is mingling to foster that closeness and this is due in part to this tournament”, Sukhdeo explained.
He pointed out that this was evident when organisers visited practice sessions last weekend, noting that there was a feeling of enthusiasm among not only teams but all present at the locations. The countrywide tournament, which offers the winning male team one million dollars and the female team $500,000, will be played on a knockout basis.
Sukhdeo, who said that the tournament was a brainchild of GT&T’s CEO Yog Mahadeo, indicated also that there are plans to make the event a national one with the top team moving on to international tournaments. This, he said can materialise with the support of the players and key stakeholders.
He noted though, that GT&T will continue to support this event especially with the backing that the company has received. They will be sparing no effort to ensure this is a calendar event that all can look forward to.
Commenting on the disparity in the prize monies for men and women Sukhdeo pointed out that they are “following suit” with what obtained with world sporting bodies. He cited the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), declaring that there is that disparity in earnings.
While it is not the ideal thing, he issued a challenge to the female cricketers. He charged the female cricketers that if they can match the male teams next year the company will bring on par the prize monies for both genders.
When he spoke about the different tiers of competition he said that due to the amount of registrants some of the younger teams will have to be matched with more experienced competitors. He posited though that the younger teams, referring to the school teams, should not see this as a bad thing since it would help in lifting their own level of play and further give credence to the high standards of the tournament.
He said perhaps next year there will be that separation in categories for both male and female.
Meanwhile, Sukhdeo pointed out that the atmosphere will be one that is colourful and lively until the final day on April 10.
