If one were to ask the governing body of almost all the sporting disciplines about the struggle of getting sponsorship, they would all speak at length of the difficulties.
However, in contrast, that was not the case for the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).
Stabroek News’ sat down with new BCB president Hilbert Foster who reflected on the year as well as the plans for 2019.
The current body headed by Foster was elected to office after a court-ordered elections at the New Amsterdam Town Hall back in February.
Since then, the BCB has held a record-breaking 30 tournaments within 2018, breaking the previous record of 15 set by his brother Keith’s executive a few years ago.
According to Foster, the BCB had all but $50,000 in its bank account, which now stands at a whopping $10 million.
Arguably, the most active board in the country, Foster’s administration has had its share of difficulties with the rainy season forcing a lot of down time.
There is also the rift with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
The BCB began with a focus on youth, by staging tournaments such as the Da Silva Motor Spares U13, Mike’s Pharmacy U15, Ramnaresh Sarwan U17, New York Business Group U19 and Elizabeth Styles U21 as age specified tournaments.
They also featured Inter-Primary and Inter-Secondary schools tournaments across the entire county.
The competitions were also spread across various formats, ranging from Double Wicket, 10/10, T20, 40 overs, 50 overs, 100 balls as well as the only female cricket tournament apart from Inter-County and the one-off Guyana Cricket Board U17 female franchise league.
Foster credited an aggressive marketing campaign coupled with accountability, transparency and good faith for attracting sponsors and extended gratitude to Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Brian Ramphal, Vernon Thorne, Bish Panday, the Office of the Prime Minister, Republic Bank, Ministry of the Presidency, Nagico, Mike’s Pharmacy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Suria Manufacturing, Da Silva Motors, Elizabeth Styles, Bissu Trading, Raffik Construction, Linden Lewis, Bakewell, Ansa McAl, Busta, Pepsi, New Building Society and JR Engineering.
He said the above sponsors were all partners with the Board in 2018 and have signalled their intention of continued support in 2019 where preparations are already afoot.
Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club has won 12 tournaments, six in the first division under former national youth captain, Shawn Pereria. They also finished second in three.
In 2018, Berbice retained the Guyana Cricket Board Inter-County U15 title with Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandia, Isaiah Thorne, Tomani Caesar and Zeynul Ramsammy all making the national under-15 team.
In the U17 Inter-County competition, they finished second with Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat, Gevon Schultz and Leon Swamy getting the green light for the national U17 team.
Berbice cricket teams copped the 50-overs and three-day titles in the GCB’s U19 Inter-County tournaments where Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kelvin Umroa, Javed Karrim and Alex Algoo excelled.
Four females made it to the Guyana U19 team headed by Shebeka Gajnabi while eight were given spots on Guyana’s national female team and seven on the Guyana senior men’s team while Anthony Bramble was appointed West Indies B captain.
Berbice cricket has seen rewards with 34 players representing Guyana and the West Indies. Notably, at the Guyana Cricket Board Awards, Berbice duo, Shimron Hetmyer and Shemaine Campbelle were named male and female Cricketers-of-the-Year respectively while Blairmont Cricket Club won club of the year and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, a team with 15 titles this year was nominated.
Sheneta Grimmond, from Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club was named the most promising female cricketer, Kevin Sinclair, also of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club was awarded Junior Cricketer of the year, Most Valuable under-19 player and most wickets for his stint in the Regional under-19 tournament.
Additionally, Foster said that this year matches and finals were played at grounds that were considered abandoned adding that the BCB has been keen on playing cricket in all parts of Berbice including Cotton Tree, West Berbice, Hampshire, Lower Corentyne, Crabwood Creek, no. 69 and 72, Upper Corentyne.
“The most pleasing aspect of 2018 was the re-introduction of four BCB founding members, Guymine, Mt. Sinai, Kildonan and Mental Hospital at the second division level with Mt. Sinai playing at the U15, U17 and U19 levels.”
Foster explained that the BCB has not only been active on the field but vibrant at community building and sport development.
He said there were held some 80 activities including, coaching clinics, fast bowling and spin bowling clinics, tribute programmes, television programmes.
There were also financial stipends for national players, raincoats for groundsmen, balls, gear and financing for clubs among other things.
The BCB also moved a motion to extend the term in office of the Executives to two years rather than the one year period which was expected to end on December 31.
For the new year, the BCB has embarked on the 2019 Mike’s Pharmacy U15 and Ramnaresh Sarwan U17 tournaments as they prepare for the two junior Inter-County competitions.
A 50-man U15 squad has been selected while a 30 member U17 squad will be selected soon to commence training for the tournament.
Foster said that it is the board’s intention to include a two-day, first division tournament and to further assist clubs with necessities. There are also plans to construct an indoor facility, strengthen the management structure within the BCB, expand the coaching programmes and win all the Inter-County tournaments by preparing adequately.
