Amidst a gloomy cricketing climate in Guyana, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to be a shining example, securing sponsorship from Ansa Mc Al for a new 20/20 tournament and renewing their relationship with Scotia Bank for the fourth year.
Ansa McAl Group of Companies would be sponsoring a 20/20 tournament for BCB’s First Division teams under the Carib brand. West Berbice, Blairmont Community Centre, Edinburgh, Young Warriors, Police, Bermine, Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Town, Port Mourant and Skeldon are the teams that will be participating.
The teams would be played on a round robin basis and would be divided into two zones. The semi-finals would be played between the top two teams from each zone while the finals would be played either at the Blairmont or Skeldon Ground.
Scotia Bank would also be sponsoring two educational programmes for the BCB and an Essay Competition for secondary school students and a Spelling Bee Competition for primary school children.
Public Relations Officer of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, said that the board had a successful 2011 and the executives are looking to continue in the same vein. He observed that while cricket is in a quandary and there exists a crippling power struggle at the highest level, the BCB has been busying itself to ensure cricket development is continuous.
“While the rest of the cricketing bodies are busy fighting for power and status, the Berbice Cricket Board has been busy preparing itself for the busiest year in its history. 2012 would be the year where success would be everywhere for the BCB with the hosting of seventeen cricket tournaments with the Berbice Cricket Board assured of at least fourteen [sets of] sponsorship.
“The tournaments are: Under-13 -Inter-club, Inter-zone, Under-15- Inter-club, Inter-zone, Under-17- Inter-club, Inter-zone, Under-19- Inter-club, Inter-zone, Under-21- Inter-club, Female – Inter-club, Second Division – Inter-club and Intermediate, First Division – two 50-Overs tournaments, two 20/20 tournaments and possibly a two-day First Division tournament,” Foster stated. Off the cricket field, on the other hand, Foster said that the BCB has a target of 80 programmes/projects, which would include Award Ceremony, a comprehensive all-year coaching programme, cricket academy, Tribute to Heroes, among others. He said that last year the BCB started coaching sessions for under-15 players and was “pleasantly surprised to find 116 players turning up at four venues.”
With these important strides being made towards the development of the game and players in the Ancient County, Ansa McAl and Scotia Bank have decided to throw their collective weight behind the BCB. Marketing Manager of Scotial Bank Jennifer Cipriani said that the institution is proud of the BCB and therefore it was easy to continue channeling funds, especially since it is going towards the development of children. Apart from that, she said, it is commendable that the BCB is incorporating the sport of cricket with academia, which will ensure more rounded individuals.
Nigel Worrell, Carib Brand Coordinator, said that Carib and Ansa McAl have always been associated with cricket and is more pleased to be associated with the BCB. He also indicated that while there are a lot of negatives surrounding Guyana’s cricket the company is focusing on the positives to get the sport back to where it once was.
He too noted that the company is always pleased to be associated with developing young people.
