GBC joins forces with GCA

-pumps $350,000 into second division 20/20 competition

The Guyana Beverage Company Incorporated (GBC) has joined forces with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) when they became that entity’s latest list of sponsors, pumping over $350,000 into a twenty20 second division competition.

Secretary of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Shalim Baksh accepts the trophy from Managing Director of Guyana Beverage Company Robert Selman, in the presence of other GCA and GBC officials. (Aubrey Crawford photograph)
Secretary of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Shalim Baksh accepts the trophy from Managing Director of Guyana Beverage Company Robert Selman, in the presence of other GCA and GBC officials. (Aubrey Crawford photograph)

At a simple ceremony held at the Everest Cricket Club pavilion yesterday, Managing Director of GBC Robert Selman handed over the champion’s trophy to Secretary of the GCA Shalim Baksh in the presence of executives of both the GCA and the GBC.

Prior to the handing over ceremony, President of the GCA Bish Panday in his remarks highlighted the structured way in which the GCA has executed competitions  under the auspices of the association.

“At the GCA, we fashion our cricket in a structured way. In this regard, the technical committee of the GCA is always looking at ways and means to improve what we do and also to do what we think is in the best interest of the long term goal of producing quality cricketers not only for Guyana, but the West Indies.”

Panday also thanked the management and staff of the Guyana Beverage Company for their non-hesitant support, and stated that this competition like any other played under the auspices of the GCA, will be well managed and properly executed.

Selman thanked the GCA for welcoming the GBC onboard as one of their sponsors, and while stating that his company has always given back to the Guyanese community through sports, he noted  that Busta, the trade mark soft drink of the GBC, is becoming a household name in Guyana.

“First of all, let me thank Mr. Panday for having us onboard as one of the sponsors of the GCA. We at the Guyana Beverage Company, through our parent company S. M. Jaleel in Trinidad and Tobago, has always sought to give back to the community, and we have done so through sports be it football or cricket.”

Selman further stated, “Today is no different. Just recently, we sponsored the Enterprise Cricket team and their Busta 20/20 competition which was a success. We also have a long standing partnership with the Fruta Conquerors Football team, and hope to build one with the GCA.”

The round robin competition will commence next weekend with six matches being played in the two zones.

The top two teams of each zone will contest the semi-finals with the winners clashing in the final for a first place price of $60,000 and a trophy.

The runners-up will pocket $40,000 and a trophy while the Man-of- the-Match will also receive a trophy and $10,000. As is customary, the GCA will be covering the umpires’ fee throughout the duration of this competition.