BCB cricket season 2023: Republic Bank powers inter-secondary school tournament in Region 6

The Berbice Cricket Board continues to attract sponsorship for its packed cricket season, and on Monday last, Republic Bank came on board as the official sponsor of a Region Six inter secondary school cricket competition.
Official launch of the tournament took place at the Bank’s New Amsterdam branch, and was attended by BCB Secretary Angela Haniff and Chairman of the Competition Committee, Leslie Solomon.
Solomon said the tournament forms part of the BCB’s development programme, and would assist the board to view potential talent at the school level. A total of 17 schools would participate in the tournament on a knockout basis.

Solomon noted that inter-secondary school tournaments have been held in each of the sub-associations: West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne, and Upper Corentyne. The tournament would be 25 overs per side.
The BCB has already assisted all secondary schools in the county with 15 pairs of white uniforms in a multi-million-dollar investment. schools have also received donations of cricket balls and gear from the proactive board.
Schools that would be participating in the BCB/Republic Bank tournament are Line Path, Skeldon High, Tagore Memorial, Black Bush, Manchester, Winifred Gaskin, Corentyne Comprehensive, Port Mourant, JC Chandisingh, Lower Corentyne, Canje Secondary, Berbice High, Vryman’s Erven, Berbice Educational Institute, New Amsterdam Secondary, and Tutorial Academy.
The final of the tournament will be played at the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre ground. Players are to be under 19 years old, born on or after the 15th of September 2004; and Solomon has said that there must be a registered student of the school with a 75% attendance rate. Schools which have non-registered players would not be allowed to participate in the tournament.
Solomon expressed gratitude to the management of the bank, especially Branch Manager Imran Saccoor, for their support, and reassured them that the tournament would be well organized.
BCB President Hilbert Foster noted that the tournament would be another tournament in the county that includes under-11, under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19, under-23, primary secondary, female, second division, and first division.
Foster noted that, over the next month, several projects would be completed. They include the test players billboard in Port Mourant; the opening of the Berbice Cricket Wall of Fame at the University of Guyana, Tain campus; publication of the second edition of the BCB coaching manual; while a total of 100 youth cricketers are expected to benefit from donation of cricket gear. 20 clubs with youth teams would also benefit from $2 million worth of coaching equipment to assist them to properly prepare youths for the future.
The BCB presently has 20 cricket coaches working across the country under the Government of Guyana’s 10-day work programme.
Republic Bank Branch Manager in New Amsterdam, Imran Saccoor, noted that the bank is delighted to support Berbice cricket, and would continue to do so. He congratulated the BCB on its outstanding work, and expressed confidence in the success of the tournament.