The Berbice Cricket Board this weekend will begin its distribution of over $1 million worth of cricket balls to 90 clubs across the county.
According to a release from the county board, “The balls would form part of the 2022 edition of the BCB/Shimron and Nirvani Hetmyer Cricket Trust Fund.”
The release informed that the fund was established last year with the sponsors agreeing to do so as long as current president, Hilbert Foster, remains in office.
Foster stated that Nirvani Hetmyer contacted him two weeks ago to inform him that the couple was interested in not only renewing their support but increasing the funds from $1 million to $1.5 million.
Last year, the couple had assisted the board to donate $700,000 worth of balls across the county while $200,000 was used for educational grants to students living in the New Amsterdam/Canje area.
The remaining funds were used for MVP programmes and coaching. Under this year edition, one million dollars would be used for the distribution of red cricket balls while $200,000 would be given out as educational grants.
Foster explained that $300,000 would be used for the hosting of a one-day grassroots tournament and a three-team female tournament involving West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, and Rose Hall Town Metro.
The grassroots tournament would take place in Canje and would involve four teams including Young Warriors and Rose Hall Canje. The BCB president also disclosed that under the educational grants, a female national player would receive a grant of one hundred thousand dollars to assist her to successfully complete her studies at the Guyana School of Agriculture.
Foster hailed the assistance of the couple who have been very supportive of his presidency and noted that it was refreshing that current players are assisting in the development of Berbice Cricket.
The distribution of the balls would start on Sunday in the Upper Corentyne area where 30 clubs would receive a box of balls each. The next area would be the West Berbice sub association where 14 clubs are expected to benefit.
Since 2018, the BCB has assisted clubs with cricket balls and late last year donated $1million worth of white balls to the 11 first-division teams and the Berbice River area under its Patron Fund. Clubs and sub-associations in the county have also benefited from donation of gear, including scorebooks, stumps, catching cribs, grass cutters, water pitchers, rain coats, uniforms, educational material, pitch covers, trophies, medals, and bicycles.
