By Tiadi Blair

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Guyana Cricket Board and National Sports Commission has launched a cricket academy with the aim of training potential under-15 cricketers over the next four weeks.

Generation Next! Fifteen of the specially-selected persons who will take part in the cricket academy pose with (front row left to right), Administrator Gervy Harry, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, Minister of Sport Frank Anthony and Acting President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bissoon Dyal Singh.

The July 13 to August 7 period will involve intense training and instruction under a fitness trainer and prominent personalities such as Rovin Deodat and Shanti Singh who have been drafted in to give lectures on topics relevant to youth development, such as discipline, communication, and HIV/AIDS.

The special academy was launched yesterday at the National Stadium where 15 young men from the three counties were addressed by representatives of each organisation, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, Acting President of the Guyana Cricket Board Bissoon Dyal Singh and Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony.

Kumar noted the effort put into getting this project off the ground stating that a total of nine meetings were held among four members of his organization.  He also pointed to the positive relationship shared among the three bodies to bring such a programme to life.

He said in his address to the youngsters, “Over the years we have dedicated ourselves to the development of sport but have also aimed to develop great sports personalities in Guyana. We have placed great emphasis on getting this off the ground and we want you to make the most of this.”

The academy is expected to be the beginning of an annual programme, likely to be held 10to 15 years from now and more development items such as this will be on the agenda, said Kumar.

Not only will this aim at developing the technical skills involved in cricket but it will include opportunity for growth in areas of social etiquette, nutrition in sport and sportsmanship. These are just a few of many components being taught to improve the overall standard of play in addition to being all-round sportsmen.

And summing up the purpose of the cricket academy, Dyal Singh told  the boys that they must make full use of the  opportunity since they were selected from among many who had applied in the hope of taking part but the programme only catered for an intake of 25.
However 15 were present and another 10 will be selected after going back to the drawing board.

The minister addressed this in his statement, noting that those who did not turn out would have missed out but the fortunate 10 will be given a shot at a programme in which he had placed much confidence.

Meanwhile, Ingra Henry who  will be the fitness trainer for the next four weeks and Guyana national coach Rabindranauth Seeram,  and Orin Bailey (GCB) will work alongside Henry. The launching of such a programme  was deemed an historic moment by the minister who indicated the likelihood of expanding it into under-17 and under-19 categories. He promised this would not be the last training programme of this calibre, adding that new technology would also be utilized.

The young men are expected to maintain exceptional grades maintaining the notion of hard work and hard play. They will be housed at the National Gymnasium along with their trainer and will work between the stadium and their base.