Legendary cricketer and former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd yesterday stressed the importance of education and discipline while delivering the feature address at this year’s 11th annual East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Cricket Academy which was launched yesterday at the Lusignan Community Centre compound.
Lloyd, who delivered the address to approximately 30 registered participants (including four females) in the presence of the ECCB executives, urged the youngsters to exercise discipline which in turn he asserted, would lead to success.
Lloyd, also known as the `SuperCat’ said he was passionate about the youths who will subsequently be the front-runners of Guyana’s cricket.
He said that he believes that discipline, patience and good decision making are the keys for success.
Another very important trait that youths must strive for was a good education which in turn would be of great assistance on and off the field of play, said Lloyd, the most successful West Indies captain who led the West Indies team to its only two World Cup triumphs.
Lloyd, who scored 7515 runs in 110 test matches at an average of 46.67 said when he played they were no coaches or cricket academies to benefit from and stressed the importance to paying keen attention and absorbing the information they would be given so as to hone their cricket skills.
He also urged the youngsters to aim for the highest form of education and concluded by advising the youths in attendance to make the most of their opportunities.
Brief remarks were also made by president of the ECCB Bisoondyal Singh and historian Tota Mangar.
The theme for the two-week seminar for the participants between the ages of 12 and 16 years is “Cricket – Professionalism and Healthy Lifestyle.”
Some of the topics to be discussed are History of West Indies cricket; Laws of Cricket – parts one and two; Scoring – parts one and two; Road Safety; Careers in Cricket; Drugs and Sports; Importance of Education; Leadership and Sportsmanship; HIV and Teenage Sex; Food and Nutrition; Social Etiquette/Grooming and last but by no means least, Discipline. The lecturers will include former West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper, Mangar, Davteerth Anandjit, Sidartha Anandjit, Claude Raphael, Darshanand Rampersaud, Runuka Anandjit and Penelope Harris.
Daniel Richmond will act as coach of the academy throughout the duration of the programme.
