The 2011 Berbice Cricket Board/Scotia Bank Cricket Academy was launched on Monday at the Area “H” ground with President Keith Foster challenging the 65 cricketers present to take full advantage of the opportunities being offered to them.
Foster informed the attentive young cricketers that a heavy investment was being made in their cricketing future and so they were being properly groomed to represent the county on and off the cricket field.
The aim of the BCB is to make sure that Berbice remains strong on the cricket field and players who represent the county should fully understood their roles as role models and sport ambassadors.
He informed the youths that the county board would continue with its investment in their development and disclosed that more cricket clinics and seminars would be arranged before the end of the year.
Foster also stated that with cricket being played at the under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, young cricketers in Berbice have more than enough opportunities to showcase and develop their cricketing abilities.
The academy is the 3rd of its kind to be organised with sponsorship coming from the Bank of Nova Scotia and is being hosted by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club at the Area “H” ground.
The coaching staff is headed by Senior Coach Julian Moore with support from coaches Winston Smith, Delbert hicks and Renwick Batson.
Among the players attending the academy are Shailendra Shameer, Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Veerapen Permaul, Kevin Ramdeen, Dominic Rikhi, Loyydel Lewis, Phaffiana Millington, Nial Smith, Romario De Jonge and Arif Chan.
Meanwhile, Berbice and Guyana senior team player and captain Assad Fudadin visited the academy on Monday and shared his vast experience with the young cricketers.
Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee Hilbert Foster stated that the academy would conclude on Friday with a presentation ceremony where representatives of Scotia Bank would be present.
The 65 cricketers would be divided into two sections with one group consisting of seasoned cricketers and the other would have cricketers who were attending the academy for the first time.
Foster, co-coordinator of the academy, stated that this represents the start of the BCB’s preparation for the 2012 Inter-county under-15, under-17 and under-19 tournaments.
Members of the academy would also be launching a Charity Trust Fund where each cricketer would make a contribution towards assisting less fortunate children in Berbice.
