Two talented Guyanese cricketers are currently involved in a bold move to revive the fortunes of one of central Trinidad’s leading cricket clubs.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Delbert Hicks and all-rounder Renwick Batson have been enlisted into the coaching staff of the Alescon Comets Cricket Club this season for their 11th annual KFC Youth Development Programme which bowled off on Friday at the club’s
Pierre Road, Charlieville ground.
Batson and Hicks will make their contributions in the three-semester coaching programme alongside their duties as overseas contracted players in the Alescon Comets team currently campaigning in the Trinidad and Tobago’s Cricket Board’s Premiership Division 2012 competitions.
President of the club, Colin Hosein, said that Alescon Comets was hoping to make a greater contribution to the community which serves a catchment area including Charlieville, Felicity, Chaguanas, Orchard Gardens and several districts east of the Uriah Butler Highway.
Hosein, a banker by profession, was encouraged by the turnout of primary school children numbering close to 125, accompanied by their parents and guardians, whom he told in his address at the launch that the club was currently pursuing certain initiatives designed to increase their membership and open it up to all regardless of their athletic abilities.
“Firstly we intend to change the name of the club to Alescon Comets Sports Club which will embrace our members who may want to play different sports. We want the parents and guardians to be just as involved as their young ones in the affairs of the club,” said Hosein.
Alongside the membership drive, Hosein revealed that they also want to encourage more young girls in the club and this idea was welcomed by KFC’s Brand Manager Crystal Dipsingh-Bachoo, an active cricketer herself, who said she wanted to see more opportunities for the young lasses.
Towards this end, Dipsingh-Bachoo, who is a product of the district, has pledged the formidable support of KFC as Alescon Comets set about raising the profile of the club and extending its reach to the greater community.
Club president Hosein said the club will now focus on other activities like starting a walking group and announced that a table-tennis board will be soon placed in the club hall for members whom he hopes will be encouraged to take up a healthy lifestyle even as their young children sharpen their athletic skills.
Hosein said the new measures will serve to ensure growth of the club which last year lost their iconic president, hardware store owner Azad Abass Ali who passed away as the club was poised to move forward with their development plans.
He is however confident that his team of fellow administrators including Patrick Moonesar (Treasurer) and former national player Suruj Ragoonath, chairman of the Youth Development Committee will successfully chart the way forward for the club.
Hosein also expressed his appreciation for the support of KFC who he said had committed themselves to the Alescon Comets programme 11 years ago and he was pleased to see that the project has turned out to be a huge success.
He praised the coaches for their dedication to have the programme run uninterrupted and assured parents that their charges will be exposed to WICB certified coaching, which will ensure that the basic skills and training methods are of the highest standards.
He also said that everything is being done to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the youngsters so that they could develop holistically to contribute to the growth and development of the club and community.
