The Rose Hall Youth and Sports Club (RHYSC) has stepped forward to open its cricket developmental programmes to females despite a number of challenges facing female cricketers in Guyana.
Hilbert Foster of the RHYSC made this announcement at the renewing of the Western Union-sponsored Junior Cricketer Ambassador Programme.
The lucky female is thirteen-year-old Phaffiana Millington, who is also a national player.
“The club is of the view that female cricket needs more assistance. Millington made her senor national debut at thirteen-years-old and we are confident that she would be the next Shermaine Campbell. Her goal is to make the West Indies team by the age of sixteen years and this investment would assist her to fulfill that goal.”
Since the programme started in 2009, it focused on the development of five cricketers, four of whom are still with the programme – Shawn Pereira, Loyde Lewis, Gudakesh moti-Kanhai, Linden Austin and Kumar Madray. Lewis who is no longer a part of the team was replaced by Phaffiana Millington.
Foster said that Lewis, Moti-Kanhai and Austin all represented Berbice and Guyana at the under-19 and level. Motie-Kanhai captained the national under-19 team while Pereira captained Berbice at the under-19.
The $305,000 yearly investment has seen the five players outfitted with cricket gear. However, this year because of cost the company will sponsor the gear, while the RHYSC will handle the educational aspect.
“Western Union your investment into these Berbice cricketing stars has played a great part in their development and is assisting the RHYSC and Berbice Cricket Board to lift the game higher.”
According to Foster, the RHYSC and the Berbice Cricket Board over the years has been working hard not only to keep up with technology that has become a part of the sport, but also to remain the best in Guyana and the West Indies.
“West Indies Cricket needs a massive investment at all levels if it has a chance in hell to raise itself from its current low status. Over the years we depended heavily on the raw talents of our players to dominate but the age of technology has caught up with us and we are so far behind that it would take a miracle for us to catch up.”
Nathia Mendonca, Marketing Manager for Grace Kennedy and representing Western Union, said that the company is pleased to support the programme.
“Of course it was an initiative that we took in 2009 to support the young cricketers in that community and from that we would have formed the RHYSC/Junior Ambassador Programme – there we make our commitment to provide the young cricketers with cricket gear and educational assistance.”
According to Mendonca the company is pleased with the growth and development of the programme as it seems to be a wise investment.
“We would not want to know that we are investing in young people where we cannot see the benefits.”
Mendonca, also addressing the cricketers directly, emphasized on discipline which she said is very important.
“I want to say to you that one’s character is revealed by the choices we make and the promises we make. Discipline is key, if you are not disciplined it will not be tolerated. We have gone the length and breadth to invest in you guys and we want results, but we don’t want it without commitment and discipline. We want no young person who is making representation of our brand if they don’t have that discipline. The brand is international and discipline must be upheld. It costs us money to invest in you guys and we want to see the results.”
