Vice President (VP) of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), Royan Fredericks, said he is happy that five female cricketers from the county were selected to represent Guyana at the recently concluded Cricket West Indies regional women’s limited-over tournament, which was held in Trinidad and Tobago.
Guyana won the tournament having played unbeaten throughout and returned home to a warm welcome from officials of the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport and the Guyana Cricket Board.
The Essequibians selected were Shounette Belgrave, Latoya Williams, Briana Samaroo, Tremaine Marks, and Laurene Williams.
Fredericks stated that this is a demonstration of the progress made by the county board. “The academy has made a difference, and potentially Essequibo can be able to produce more cricketers at the national level”, he affirmed.
Fredericks stated that over the past few years, both male and female cricketers that were selected to represent Guyana at the various levels have been working hard on their game. “They have been working very hard to enhance the quality of their games, and the board is delighted to see that their work has brought them success”, he explained.
Fredericks, a former Guyana U-19 and Essequibo senior opening batsman, is urging the youths to remain disciplined as they strive for greater success, adding, “Their achievement will help to motivate other young cricketers from the county, both male and female.”
Recently, the GCB, in collaboration with the ECB, launched a number of academies in the respective area committees: Wakenaam, Leguan, Pomeroon, North Essequibo, East Bank Essequibo, and South Essequibo.
The academies are designed to unearth talent and lift the standard of the game in those areas. It is also aimed at giving the youths an early opportunity to play cricket, which can help them to develop at a faster rate and be prepared for bigger challenges at a younger age. The academies cater for aspiring cricketers from age 7 to 17, both male and female, and sessions are being conducted by coaches within the respective area committees.
All-rounder Samaroo, 16, hails from the island of Leguan. She started playing cricket at a tender age at Dennison Town playfield located at Enterprise, Leguan. She also plays for Leguan Secondary School. Samaroo has expressed gratitude to the ECB executives and members of the Leguan Cricket Committee.
The Williams sisters (Latoya and Laurene) are from Bartica/Karatabo. Latoya is also a national football player. Meanwhile, Belgrave hails from Troolie Island and usually plays in South Essequibo. She is the first female from that island to play cricket at the national level. On the other hand, Marks is from Tennessee Farm, Pomeroon.
