Two weeks ago a delegation from the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) met with representatives of several clubs in West Berbice and committed the Board to host a one- day cricket academy and several coaching sessions for youth cricketers.
That commitment was fulfilled on Saturday 18th February when the BCB held a highly successful one-day cricket academy at the Bush Lot Cricket Ground for forty-two youth cricketers.
The Board also organized two coaching sessions for Under-15 cricketers over the last two weeks at the Blairmont Cricket Club. A combined total of 52 cricketers attended the sessions which were conducted by senior coach Julian Moore.
The one-day academy was conducted by coaches Michael Hyles Franco, Winston Smith and Julian Moore and attracted players from clubs in West Berbice such as Blairmont, Shieldstown, D’Edward, Bath, Cotton Tree, Rainbow Generation, Bush Lot and Hopetown.
The coaches placed special emphasis on batting, bowling, fielding and physical fitness. The young cricketers were also lectured on mental fitness, rules of cricket, field placement and the importance of discipline.
Head of the BCB coaching department Julian Moore expressed his delight at the success of the academy and noted that the coaches were able to identify several promising talents for further coaching and selection to the junior elite training programme which would be launched shortly.
Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee Hilbert Foster hailed the West Berbice club for making the academy a total success. Foster expressed gratitude to the Bush Lot Cricket Club, Rabindranauth Saywack of Bush Lot and Shabeer Baksh of Blairmont Community Centre for their co-operation in organizing the event.
The BCB would do another follow-up one day academy in the near future for West Berbice Under-19 players at the D’Edward Ground. The Board during the month of March would also be hosting one-day academy for youths in the New Amsterdam/Canje and Upper Corentyne areas.
