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Thursday January 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh commits $1.3M to BCB for Coaching and Cricket Academy - Board raises $2.5M out of targeted $10M in two weeks
Dr.Tulsi Dyal Singh The Berbice Cricket Board has already raised $2.5M worth of sponsorship in two weeks for 2020 as it forges ahead with its unmatched cricket development programme. This represents a twenty-five percentage of the target of $10M in cash and kind for the year. Overseas based Guyanese, Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, on last Saturday last confirmed sponsorship for 2020 to the tune of almost $1.3M. The Texas based Berbician since February, 2018 has invested over $4M of his own funds to assist the Hilbert Foster led administration to fulfill its mandate. BCB President Hilbert Foster welcomed the sponsorship deal from Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh and stated that the medical doctor was one of the main reasons, why his presidency has been successful. Foster stated that Dr. Singh would sponsor a county wide coaching at the cost of $860,000, while the 3rd annual BCB Cricket Academy is set for July. These events would be the main programme in a comprehensive Berbice wide developmental effort to unearth new talents. Since Foster’s election, the board has invested heavily in the development of youths and BCB boss stated that much more would be done during his second term. With Dr. Singh sponsorship, the BCB would host four major two days coaching clinics in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Upper Corentyne/ Black Bush Polder and Lower/Central Corentyne. The BCB is aiming to coach at least seventy youths between the ages of 11 to 19 years in each sub-zone, for a combined 280 youths. The coaches would be Winston Smith, Delbert Hicks, Leslie Solomon and Balram Samaroo. Special emphasis would be
placed on identifying young females as the BCB continues to invest heavily in female cricket. At the end of the coaching programme, the coaches would select seventy players to participate in the Cricket Academy. They would also take part in several special one-day clinics for batsmen, fast bowlers, wicketkeepers and spinners. The seventy players selected, would attend the 3rd Annual Dr. Singh Cricket Academy from the 3rd to 7th of August. Apart from onfield coaching, they would be involved in extensive classwork using the historic BCB/RHTYSC Youth Information booklet. Among the topics to be covered would be Importance of Education for Sportsmen, how to handle on Interview, Ways of Dismissals, Cricket Field Positions, Table Manners, How to Behave at a Public Ceremony, Personal Hygiene and Appearance, Importance of Religion, Peer Pressure, History of Cricket and Rules/ Laws of Cricket. The preparation of all Berbice teams is also covered under the sponsorship. Foster expressed confidence that the coaching panel led by Smith would do a good job and that all the youths would benefit, would become better players and individuals. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Singh for his massive investment and reassured him that of his funds would be used for the intended purposes. Dr. Singh, who received the BCB highest award, Tribute to Heroes in 2019, stated that he was very impressed with the work of the Berbice Board, it’s feedback to sponsors and accountability of his funds. The BCB, he stated makes sure that he is regularly updated of the sponsored programmes with reports and photos.
BCB Launches Nand Persaud Co Ltd/ RHTYSC Female Cricket tournament “I would be the first to admit that we have failed our female cricketers by not arranging enough tournaments. One of the main problems is that Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS is the only club in Guyana to have a structured female team. As President of the BCB, I pledge to correct the situation in 2020 and today’s launching is the first of as least three tournaments. Female cricket has made Berbice Cricket proud with six of our players representing the West Indies over the last decade.” Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster, MS as he launched the Nand Persaud/ RHTYSC Female 50 overs cricket tournament. The tournament would be played between Rose Hall Town Metro, New Amsterdam/ Canje and West Berbice. The three teams would play each other on a round robin basis with the team with the most points emerging as the winner. Players like Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond, Tremayne Smartt, Shabika Gajnabi, Lafona Gilgeous, Kantana Mentore, Ashley Ramnauth,
BCB President Hilbert Foster receives sponsorship cheque from Devash Persaud, Marketing Manager of Nand Persaud Co. Ltd. Ashmini Munisar, Marian Samaroo, Dian Prahalad, Oma Matadin, Ameera Adram, Jamie Campbell, Abigail Kishun, Kimmone Thomas and Kassie Munro would participate in the tournament, which would be used to select the Berbice team for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board Female Cricket County tournament. Over the last decade,
Berbice has produce six West Indies players in Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt, Erva Gid d i n g s , S a b r i n a Munroe, Sheneta G r i m m o n d a nd Shabika Gajnabi. Others like Meliane Henry, Plaffina Millington, Marian Samaroo, Ashley Ramnauth, Lafona Gilgeous, Dian Prahalad, Ashmini Munisar and Katana Mentore have played for Guyana at the
different level. Foster stated that the BCB would be very grateful if clubs like Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Edinburgh and Achievers would form permanent female teams, so like their male counterparts, the BCB would arrange regular tournaments at the 20/ 20, 40 overs and 50 overs level. The BCB President expressed gratitude to the Management and staff of the Nand Persaud Co. Ltd, especially its Marketing Manager Mr. Devash Persaud for coming on board with Guyana’s most dynamic cricket board within days of receiving the proposal. The Company contributed financially, while the RHTYSC would provide the trophies, medals for the winners and runner up. Marketing Manager Devash Persaud expressed delight at sponsoring the tournament for the second time and stated that he has full confidence in the organizing skills of the BCB. Nand Persaud Co. Ltd, he stated, strongly believes in giving back to society and does so via, sports, education, community development and culture.
GTTA changes dates for National C/ships There has been a shift in the dates for the 2020 National Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship, slated for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall later this month. The organising body, the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), made the announcement via a press release on Tuesday afternoon. “The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) would like to formally notify members of the table tennis fraternity, media and the general public that due to several issues beyond our control the GTTA National Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship is now scheduled for the 24th to 26th January, 2020, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall,” the GTTA said. “The dates for the National Senior Table Tennis Championships have been confirmed and will be now be held on January 31st to 2nd February, 2020, at the same venue. The GTTA wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused due to the change in scheduling. We look forward your continued support for the rest of our 2020 calendar.”
The GTTA has announced a change of date for the National Junior Table Tennis Championships. The national championship is the premier domestic tournament and it serves as a key component for establishing rankings and selection systems. With the continental qualification event for Tokyo’s XXXII Olympiad
scheduled for the 15th to 19th April, the GTTA is expediting the completion of the National Championship for earlier this year. The Caribbean junior and cadet championships are scheduled for this March and the Caribbean Senior
Championships will be contested from April 2nd to 8th in Havana, Cuba. The Caribbean seniors will also be used as the qualification event for the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships scheduled for Houston, Texas, USA.