The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continued its heavy investment in the development of cricket talent at the school level as six secondary schools in West Berbice were assisted with uniforms, cricket balls and gear.
A delegation of executives headed by BCB President Hilbert Foster, Friday handed over the donation which is worth close to one million dollars through the Lochan Samkarran project.
Foster in remarks, stated that the BCB is committed to taking Berbice cricket to a very high level adding that in order to do so, he believes that they would have to invest heavily in youths at both the club and school levels. He stated that the nursery for clubs and the BCB has a main objective which is to play the game at both the primary and secondary level.
He announced that the BCB, in early 2023, will be hosting a 30-overs-a-side, Under-19 tournament for six secondary schools and a tape-ball tournament for 14 primary schools in the West Coast Berbice area.
To loud applause, Foster announced that sponsorships for both tournaments have been obtained. Firstly, a comprehensive coaching programme in secondary schools with sponsorship from Namilco will be organized and following the two tournaments, an elite squad of 30 players from each level will be selected for special coaching sessions with BCB coaches.
Foster urged the schools to take proper care of the items and to use them for the intended purpose. Each school received 15 pairs of uniforms with the names of the school, two boxes of red balls and cricket gear including bats, batting gloves, wicket keeping gloves and private guards.
The schools benefitting were Fort Wellington, Rosignol, No. 8, Belladrum, Woodley Park and Bush Lot. Government Member of Parliament, Faizal Jafferally, congratulated the BCB for its outstanding leadership of the game, noting that investment at the school level is very important.
He urged the leadership of the schools to place special emphasis on the game.
A People Progressive Party, Member of Parliament since 2018, Jaferally has worked closely with the Foster-led administration to develop the game by sponsoring a tournament, a cricket trust fund and also securing sponsorships for tournaments in the West Berbice area. President of the West Berbice Cricket Association, David Black, thanked the BCB and sponsor, Samkarran, for the investment. The donation, he stated, will play a major role in identifying new talent from Region Five. Black expressed delight with the special emphasis placed in the sub association with assistance to schools and clubs while several tournaments are being organized along with coaching sessions.
Samkarran is a USA-based businessman and with his support, the BCB was able to assist a total of 23 secondary schools across the county with an estimated three million dollars worth of uniforms, balls and gear.
