Four Guyanese youth players on Saturday departed home soil for Antigua where they will join the West Indies under-19 training camp.
The four players are West Indies under-15 batsman, Mavindra Dindyal who also bowls off-spin and keeps wicket, resolute top order batsman, Matthew Nandu, pugnacious opener, Rampertab Ramnauth and exhilarating fast bowler, Isai Thorne.
The youngsters gathered at the Eugene F. Corriea International Airport prior to departure and were the recipients of words of encouragement from former West Indies under-19 and Guyana leg-spinner, Arjune Nandu and former youth batsman, Richard Jodah.
Nandu, who is the father of Matthew informed the boys that it will be a tough journey with the new norms of life but reminded them to stay focussed and rely on each other.
Jodah reminded them that they were representing Guyana and professed how proud he, along with every citizen, was to have them embark on such a journey.
According to Guyana Cricket Board’s Territorial Officer, Colin Stuart, it is a proud moment for the country to have the players undertaking such a task with the stakes high as breaking into the West Indies Under-19 World Cup squad. That World Cup is set to be played in the Caribbean next year.
The former West Indies fast bowler recalled that the Guyana Cricket Board had been facilitating a rigorous training programme for the four players that was in keeping with the programme sent down by West Indies Under-19 head coach, Floyd Reifer and high Performance manager, Graeme West.
The training was facilitated by local coaches, Orin Bailey and Winston Smith.
Stuart expressed gratitude to the Guyana Immigration Authority for its assistance in helping the four players be able to travel to Antigua.
The month-long camp is expected to be followed by the selection of a squad that will tour England.
