Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited in collaboration with Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has successfully completed another year of the Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ programme in Guyana.
A Republic Bank (Guyana) release announced on Tuesday said that the national festival finals were hosted at the Queen’s College ground in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, and featured the primary school county champions from Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice.
According to the release, the round-robin format featuring five overs per side, saw St Theresa’s Primary (Berbice Champions), Sparta Primary (Essequibo Champions) and Leonora Primary (Demerara Champions) battling for victory in a safe and player-centred environment designed around the principles of fun, inclusion and equality. These elements took on even greater significance on the day of the finals as it coincided with the commemoration of Universal Children’s Day. When the dust settled, St. Theresa’s Primary emerged as the champion school in Guyana for 2024, playing unbeaten at the national finals.
The release noted that the participants embraced the values of teamwork, mental focus, tactical awareness and physical development whilst demonstrating high-level cricketing skills in the rudiments of the game: batting, bowling, fielding and wicketkeeping.
Among the attendees at the final event were Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd Managing Director, Stephen Grell; Director of Sport in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Steve Ninvalle; Education Officer I, Saeed Zameen; Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board and CWI Director, Ronald Williams; and CWI Project Officer, Brendon Ramlal.
Grell, who gave brief remarks stated: “This tournament has been an extraordinary showcase of youthful energy and sporting potential. From all reports, the fast paced, fun and engaging format of the game have captivated not just the players, but also parents, teachers and coaches. In the Caribbean and especially in Guyana, cricket is more than just a sport, it’s a passion that runs deep in our veins. Republic Bank is proud to support this initiative which goes beyond just simply playing a game. Our goal is to nurture talents, spark interest, and develop the necessary skills that could transform these young players into future cricket legends.”
Meanwhile, the Director of Sport congratulated all who participated in the competition, emphasising that there were no losers since everyone gained something positive from the tournament. He lauded Republic Bank for their investment in sport and fulfilling their corporate social responsibility, remarking that the competition is an example of what can be done when the public and private sectors join hands. Ninvalle also took the opportunity to mention the government’s focus on enhancing over 400 grounds across the country which will provide the facilities for such activities. He also commented on the number of girls who participated noting the importance of gender balance in as many activities as possible.
The Republic Bank “Five for Fun” programme, the release explained, forms part of Republic Bank’s “Power to Make a Difference Programme” and continues to strengthen the base of CWI’s developmental pathway and its “Future Stars” programme. It is the third pillar of Republic Bank’s region-wide investment into the Caribbean’s favourite sport. Republic Bank is also the Official Banking Partner of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and one of the tournament’s long-standing supporters.
“Five for Fun” is a new cricket format designed around the principles of fun, inclusion and equality. The ‘fun’ elements of the game are rooted in its speed, energy, and uncomplicated rules. Each Five for Fun game involves five (5) players per team playing five (5) 6-ball overs each. Each batter faces an over from a single bowler. If a batter is ‘Out’, they will still face their allotted over, but three runs will be deducted from the team score. The ‘inclusion and equality’ elements ensure boys and girls of all abilities have the opportunity to play together as equals.
