The newly elected Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has made good on their promise to facilitate more tournaments in 2015 by securing sponsorship for the Secondary School Under-17 Cricket Competition for schools in Berbice.
The tournaments will be sponsored by A Ally and Sons of New Amsterdam, as part of the company’s 30th anniversary celebrations, a press release said. At a simple ceremony held at the company’s main office on Wednesday, Managing Director Faizal Ally said he is always willing to assist with school cricket tourneys and sports in general and, has done so for several years. Ally said the development of young people is pivotal to the progress of any community and country and his company is committed to playing its part.
According to the statement, the round robin tournament will start on Friday January 23 from 11am and will be one of two innings. Twenty-one teams from East and West Berbice will participate. Five teams from the Upper Central/Upper Corentyne area, under the purview of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, will also compete and the winner will contest the playoffs. Only players born on or before September 1, 1998 will be eligible to compete.
Chairman of the Competition Committee, Carl Moore is pleased about the tournament and lavished praise on the company. He thanked them for sponsoring the tournament as it fills a gap in Berbice cricket. Secretary Angela Haniff echoed Moore’s sentiments and thanked the Regional Education Officer, Volaika Jaikishun for facilitating the match forthwith. She urged teachers, parents and students to capitalise on this opportunity, submitting that cricket is a productive alternative to children engaging in anti-social behaviours. She also noted that it provides huge financial opportunities to cricketers and their families.
Selectors will be on hand to ‘spot talent’ for the youth inter-county teams. The BCB is also negotiating with Dalchand Rambharose, a friend of Berbice cricket who has overseas links, for sponsorship of the U15 tournament which will commence just after the U17 is completed.
