Albion Community Centre CC concludes successful academy

The 21st edition of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club’s academy concluded last Saturday (August 12, 2023).
At an impressive closing ceremony held at the Jai Hind Ground, club president Vemen Walter congratulated the 56 young cricketers for participating, and urged them to put into practice whatever they have learnt, which no doubt would assist in their cricket development.
“I must congratulate all of you for participating in this cricket academy. I want to urge all of you to put whatever you have learnt into practice, which I am sure will assist you in your cricket development,” he said.
Walter also encouraged the young cricketers to be disciplined, dedicated and determined, and assured that the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club would continue to invest heavily in their development.
He expressed confidence that among those young participants were more “Chattergoons, Bishoos, Permauls, Deonarines and Moties” (all Albion Test cricketers who have passed through the club’s cricket academies over the years).
President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, who also was present, was loud in praise for the historic Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, and urged the youngsters to work hard on their game while simultaneously focusing on their education.
The six-day academy, which commenced on August 17, saw participants being exposed to lectures/discussions on topics such as the importance of education, discipline, public speaking, substance abuse, health and safety, motivation, and the laws of cricket, among other things, done in the morning sessions; while in the afternoon they were exposed to fundamentals of the game of cricket.
Among the resource personnel were acting ACCCC Secretary, popular school teacher Prem Kanhai; former Berbice Senior Inter-County player and Guyana youth off-spinner, Orvin Mangru; Dhanraj Arjune, Community Development Officer of Albion Estate; Manager of the GuySuCo Training Centre, Jainarine Sookpaul; representatives of the Berbice Cricket Board; and Avinesh Ramzan of Newsroom.
The coaching team included Albion’s Head Coach, former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon; fellow Albion and West Indies cricketers Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul; national coach Esuan Crandon and Fabian Naiken.
Each of the participants received a certificate of participation, while trophies were presented to the following persons: Arvin Jowahir, for being the player of the academy; Kelvin Khedaroo, the most disciplined cricketer; most improved fast bowler, Nicholas Lepps; most improved spin bowler, Rajesh Singh; most improved batsman, Rovin Lalbeharri; most improved wicket-keeper, Dion Setal; most determined cricketer, Purvash Harilall; best academic student, Ryan Ferreira; best under-11 batsman, Daniel Johnson; and most improved under-11 fast blower, Jayden Gobardhan.
The academy was sponsored by former Albion opening batsman and current businessman of Connecticut, USA, Nizul Hussain of Northeast Connecticut Renovation and Retailers Property Management.
Hussain, a swashbuckling opening batsman who represented the Club at all levels over the years prior to him migrating to the United States of America (USA), has sponsored the academy for the second straight year to the value of over $300,000.