The inaugural Future Warriors Tapeball Tournament, a primary school event that the title sponsor, ExxonMobil, has seen as an investment in youth and their future, was officially launched yesterday at the National Library in Georgetown.
In a pilot initiative, 12 primary schools from Georgetown will compete in the inaugural two-day tournament set for September 9 and 10. The ultimate prize at this point is that the winning team will be “adopted” by the Guyana Amazon Warriors during the home leg.
The Amazon Warriors will arrive in Guyana on Monday, September 11, and play their first home match on September 13 and the last group match four days later.
Throughout this period, the winning team will have numerous interactions with the squad. According to Ryan Hoppie, ExxonMobil Guyana Community Relations Advisor, there would be novelty matches between the students and players.
Hoppie-related, there is a considerable emphasis on ExxonMobil given the benefit of investing in youth and creating a greater interest in the sport.
These comments were amplified by Shaun Massiah, competition chairman of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA).
Massiah welcomed the move as clubs seek to boost their youth programs, and with an impending U-13 tournament, he believed this would form a key scouting ground.
Meanwhile, Romario Samaroo, Co-Director of Tournament Organizers, FL Sport, explained that the format will be eight overs per side, and a team can field 11 players from their squad of 13. It will be contested on a straight knockout basis, and boys and girls can form one squad.
All matches will be at the Everest Cricket Club, Camp Road, and Carifesta Avenue tomorrow, while the top three teams progress to the finals at the Camp Ayanganna ground on Sunday.
Both match days commence at 9:00 a.m., and the organizers will provide bats, balls, and transportation free of charge to all of the participating schools, along with various meals and refreshments throughout the playing days.
Some confirmed schools are Graham’s Hall Primary, St. Margaret’s Primary, WestField Prep, Stella Maris Primary, St. Angela’s Primary, St. Ambrose, St. Pius Primary, St. Gabriel’s, Winfer Gardens, and F.E. Pollard Primary.
