Angostura treats students to interaction with CPL stars

Another group of young Guyanese were treated to an interactive session featuring Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) personalities. This time around, it was compliments of Banks DIH, through its Angostura Chill brand.
Students from several schools around Georgetown gathered at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda, on Monday morning, where they fired rapid questions about life and the sport to St Lucia Kings Coach Daren Sammy and the Barbados Royals’ Harry Tector.
The engagement, organised by Banks DIH, was focused on jumpstarting the next generation of players.
This motive was explained by Banks’ Communications Manager, Troy Peters.
“As you know, CPL is in the air and it’s not what is happening now, it’s what is to come in the future. So, to have these youngsters here today is a testimony to what we plan to do to bring more into the core. And it’s even more encouraging to see female players, girls around because it will help to lift their seeing on television, their going to the games, and this is the opportunity for them to come out and to really get that exposure,” Peters explained.
Not only were the students allowed to quiz the international superstars, but autographs, photos and games were plenty.
In turn, the cricketers did not shy away from sharing harsh truths that could help to motivate the youngsters.
“I’ve had thoughts of giving up, plenty times, but, again, it’s the mindset because things don’t always go your way. That’s just in life, in general. Probably you guys at school and you can’t do the work, can’t get it done, and thinking, ‘I’m giving up,” the former West Indian Captain Sammy said.
“That’s where the strong mindset comes in, keep motivating yourself and telling yourself that I’m good enough.”
Referencing some of his experiences as Captain of the regional team, Sammy explained, “That was tough and when I was in my room, I want to hit my head on the wall, why, why. But if you succeed, that feeling that comes to you when you actually overcome those challenges, propelled me to want to continue.”
According to Peters, such revelations could help to inspire the youths, who are likely to be the cricket stars of the future.
He highlighted, “When you heard about some of the struggles that some of these players come through and you know, you might be sitting there and believing ‘What?! I didn’t know it was all of that’, some people never had a bat, somebody had to give them a bat, a pair of shoes, you know.”
“These are some of the things that these children will be inspired by, because they get that understanding that you don’t start with a golden bat, a big cricket bag and so on. It all starts from the bottom and this is the initiative to lift them from where they’re at right now.”
“I’m sure that after today, look some of them in their faces, you will see them some other time, maybe representing West Indies, Guyana and further afield,” he posited.