Under-15 cricket launched – sponsor promises annual competition

Once again the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has launched another competition in the city to give Under-15 cricketers the opportunity to showcase their talent.

The Lifetime Realty-sponsored Under-15 50-overs cricket competition was launched at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) on Wednesday afternoon.

Making a brief statement before receiving the sponsorship cheque from Alfred Mentore, Managing Director of Lifetime Realty, president of the GCA Bish Panday told those gathered what a marvellous experience it was for the GCA.

“When we took over stewardship of the GCA, we promised to organize cricket in a systematic way, so that our competitions will be structured to make them meaningful and relevant to that of regional competitions run by the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and to an extent, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB),” said Panday.

He further stated, “I want to take this opportunity to welcome Lifetime Realty on board as a sponsor to the GCA. Being a former national youth cricketer, Mr. Mentore who also is a vice-president with the GCA had indicated his willingness to give back to cricket in some form or the other, and today his words have borne fruit.”

Mentore briefly stated how grateful he felt to be making such an impact on youth cricket in Georgetown and to a wider extent, Guyana on the whole and urged all and sundry involved to make this competition a successful one with the cricketers putting on a quality show.

“I am elated at making this gesture at the moment. I also want to take this opportunity to let you know that this competition will be an annual one on the calendar of the GCA and urge all clubs to play to the best of their ability and beyond as they seek to lift the coveted first prize,” Mentore said. The competition which is being sponsored to the tune of $250,000 will be played on a round robin system with the two top teams engaging each other in the final. Points will be awarded for each win, while bonus points are also up for grabs.

Should a team pass 100 while batting, they will receive a bonus point with an additional point being awarded for every 25 runs scored after passing the 100-run mark in an innings. Bowlers are also catered for as their team can get a bonus point for every two wickets taken, making the competition one of high intensity as teams battle for supremacy and players for selection on the Demerara side for the upcoming Inter-County Under-15 tournament.