By Yonalla Dalrymple
The Demerara Cricket Club’s 100th anniversary celebrations commenced Wednesday with a cocktail reception at the club’s pavilion where several members, old as well as new, mingled with members of the visiting Atlantis Cricket Club.
DCC president, Alfred Mentore, said that his club was looking forward to a very competitive game against Atlantis Cricket Club of the United States of America.
The two sides met yesterday at the DCC ground in Queenstown and DCC emerged winners.
“Even though it might be competitive I presume that it’s going to be more of a ceremonious occasion instead,” said Mentore.
He informed that the Atlantis Cricket Club was a sister club of DCC since most of its members were former members of the DCC before they migrated.
“They play a lot of cricket in the United States and still represent DCC (Guyana) so they are like a sister/partner club to us (DCC).
Chris Barnwell, a member of the DCC said that the members were working assiduously to get themselves ready for the matches.
“Even though the team hasn’t been getting a lot of practice sessions we are still working on our games individually and hopefully, we’ll go out there to perform and get a good game in and do our club well since it’s our anniversary, said Barnwell, who has been named in the West Indies Cricket Board’s provisional squad for the upcoming International Cricket Council’s World Cup T20 tournament.
Barnwell added that he was expecting some challenges from the other teams on the day of the matches since they are excellent players and do not pose as a walk over.
“As an overseas team we will have to expect certain challenges from them but we still have the confidence in my club because you know that we produce a lot of players for the West Indies team but we will come out victorious at the end.”
Barnwell added that he was very glad to be a part of the DCC family and to share such moments together not only as a cricketer but as a team. He said that he has been a part of the club since he was a youngster and was motivated after seeing his older siblings playing the sport.
Overseas-based Carlyle Miller stated that the club has performed very well on and off the field and putting on a week of celebrations was quite fitting for an organization such as DCC. He added that there were a lot of young cricketers in the club with different directions and different perspectives.
“I do hope that they will move forward boldly in doing innovative stuff for this organization and in so doing encourage the youths of the next generation to continue in the tradition that has been set before them.
“I think this is an occasion of one in a life time chance in 100 years for any institution. It says a lot of the past leadership of the club and it also says a lot of the future leadership that is taking care of the club.
Today the Guyana Police Force cricket team will oppose the Atlantis team at the Eve Leary Sports Club ground from 10am while tonight there will be a Dinner and Ball (Black and White Affair) at the Edge Lounge.
