Sponsorships in Berbice continue to pour in as the 2021 cricket season streams ahead under very strict Covid-19 guidelines.
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) which has set itself a target of 40 tournaments in 2021 and the latest sponsors to come on board are Sandeep and Son Poultry Farm and Kascon Engineering Ltd.
Sandeep Ramdass, of Sandeep and Son Poultry Farm, will sponsor an Under-23 tournament for clubs across Berbice while Kascon Engineering Ltd., will sponsor a T20 tournament for teams specifically in the New Amsterdam/Canje/East Bank Area.
BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed the Sandeep Ramdass and Son Poultry Farm Under-23 as another milestone in the history of Berbice cricket as it would complete the cycle of tournaments for junior cricketers.
The cycle starts at the Under-13 level and includes Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 tournaments.
Foster noted that many players leave the game after the Under-19 level as they feel that their careers have no future.
The staging of Under-21 and Under-23 tournaments, Foster said, is intended to correct that situation and to assist in the development of the players.
Players such as Kevin Sinclair, Adrian Sukhwa, Sylus Tyndall, Keith Simpson, Kevin Umroa, Jetendra Outar, Karran Arjpaul, Anthonio February, Kevlon Anderson, Leon Swammy, Garfield Benjamin, Brandon Corlette, Marvon Prashad, Seon Glasgow, Javed Karim, Trevon Stanislaus, Nigel Deodat, Chris Harry, Shamal Angel, Rampertab Ramnauth, Isiah Thorne, Alex Algoo, Gourav Ramesh, Chanderpaul Govindhan, Abdul Ramsammy, Zeynul Ramsammy, Jeremy Sandia, Mahendra Gopilall, Reaz Karim and Leon Cecil are all expected to play in the tournament.
Teams expected to participate include Rose Hall Town Vitality Inc, Albion, Port Mourant, Radha Krishna Foundation, RH Canje, Young Warriors, Tucber Park, Edinburgh, Blairmont, Achievers and Bush Lot United.
The second tournament sponsored by Kascon Engineering Inc., will be for teams in the New Amsterdam/Canje area and forms part of the BCB grassroots cricket developmental programme.
Foster said he has committed his administration to staging a minimum of three cricket tournaments for each of the five sub-areas – Berbice River, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne/Central Corentyne, West Berbice and Upper Corentyne.
The BCB/Kascon Engineering tournament will be a T20 knockout one with a total of 16 clubs participating.
The teams include Kendall Union CC, Kendall’s Union Sports Star, RH Canje, YWCC, Pathfinders CC, Canje Titans, Goed Bananen Land, Betsy Ground, Mt. Sinai, Tucber Park, Guymine and Sisters. Foster disclosed that the tournament will start April 11 and is expected to be completed in four weeks.
Teams involved in the tournaments are required to observe the BCB Covid-19 guidelines. No spectators will be allowed in the venue while players will have to wear face masks in the pavilion and practice social distancing.
Foster expressed gratitude to sponsors Sandeep Ramdass and Rafeek Kassim for their support. He noted that Berbice cricket was undergoing a remarkable period and this includes the hosting of numerous tournaments at different levels. Both businessman expressed delight to be associated with Berbice cricket and indicated that they would likely to be long term sponsors.
