By Royston Alkins
Under 17 cricket in Berbice will receive a shot in the arm with the staging of the `Water is Life’ competition which is set to bowl off shortly.
The tournament was launched yesterday at the Guyana Water Inc., Head Office by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club. The 50-overs-a-side knockout tournament provides for players born on or after September 1, 2000.
The RHTY&SC initiative will serve as a tool to bridge the gap between the Under 15 and Under 19 cricketers in the region.
According to Hilbert Foster, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the RHTY&SC, he expects the tournament to bowl-off in about two weeks, providing the weather permits.
Winners of the competition will pocket $40,000 and a trophy. Young Warriors, Rose Hall Town Pepsi “A” and B, No 73, and the Metro female team, who will be allowed to field players over the age of 17 as part of a drive to develop female cricket in region, are among 16 clubs expected to vie for top honors.
The tournament presents a wonderful opportunity for young players to showcase their talent and it also presents an equally important opportunity for the administrators of cricket in Berbice to observe some of the young talent coming through.
“Guyana’s leading youth and sport organization and cricket club of the year, the RHTY&SC, M.S has decided to host at least 20 cricket tournaments in 2017 among the primary and secondary school, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 19, females second and first division levels,” said Foster.
He also said that the club was not looking to sniff away the administrative duties from the Berbice Cricket Board but that ideally, it was looking to step in and organize cricket while the board, which has not held its elections, sorts itself out.
Asked whether the tournament will be an annual one, Foster gave the affirmative. RHTY&SC has been instrumental in the development of the sport in the Berbice area and is committed to its quest to continue their efforts, Foster declared.
Meanwhile, Gayle Doris, Director of Human Resources, Management and Development of GWI said that: “WI is happy to be a part of the tournament, I’m also happy that a girls team is included. It’s good to see women being promoted,” she added.
Doris, in her closing remarks, said that Foster and his team should encourage athletes to make academics an important part of their lives. She expressed her concern at the alarming number of athletes who do not have that right balance of academic and sporting feats.
At the conclusion of the launch, Foster pointed out that no indiscipline would be tolerated in the tournament and said that the playing of overaged players will result in teams being disqualified.
He expressed profound gratitude to the management of GWI especially Managing Director Dr. Richard Van West Charles.
Charles, Foster added, was prompt in his support of the tournament and did not need much convincing. He also thanked GWI’S Public Relations Officer Leanna Bradshaw for her support.
