The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) third annual cricket academy for 60 young cricketers was officially launched last Thursday at the BCB’s office in Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam.
According to a press release Scotia Bank invested $150,000 in the 2011 academy which will be held for one week at the Port Mourant Cricket Club in July.
Chairman of the Special Events Committee and Public Relations Officer of the BCB, Hilbert Foster hailed the early launching of the academy as another major milestone in the development of cricket in the ancient county.
Foster disclosed that the BCB strongly believes in the phrase “catching them young” and as such has invested heavily in the development of all youths to make sure that they become not only proper cricketers but rounded individuals as well who could represent Berbice at high standards, the release noted.
Senior coaches Julian Moore and Winston Smith will be in charge of the camp which will seek to improve the youths’ ability in batting, bowling, fielding and physical fitness. In addition, a panel of educators will be selected to lecture to the academy members on a wide range of topics such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, importance of education, importance of discipline, and public manners, among others.
Foster expressed gratitude to the Bank of Nova Scotia and its Marketing Director Jennifer Nelson for their sponsorship of the academy, noting that the bank was investing in the future of Berbice cricket.
Meanwhile, Treasurer of the BCB Anil Beharry underscored the importance of the academy as a structure for development in Berbice cricket and noted that players like Dominic Rikhi, Surujnarine Kandasammy, Loyydel Lewis, Shawn Pereira, Kevin Ramdeen, Linden Austin and Romario De Jonge are all products of the academy.
