The rainy season has gone on longer than expected and has affected the plans of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to host as many as 30,000 in 2019.
BCB President Hilbert Foster and Ramesh Sunich launched the BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 Tournament at the company’s Port Mourant branch
The pro-active and extremely hard-working Board is, however, forging ahead with its plans with the expectation that there would be an improvement in the weather.
On Thursday last, the Hilbert Foster-led BCB joined hands with the popular Trophy Stall to launch an Under-13 Tournament for the Ancient County. BCB President Foster, at the launching, stated that the Under-13 Tournament was a very important one for Berbice cricket as it served as a nursery for the county’s Under-15 level and would encourage players to start playing at a young age.
Last year, the BCB hosted the Da Silva Motor Spares Under-13 Tournament, which was won by the Rampersaud Ramnauth-led Port Mourant Cricket Club. The BCB is expecting at least 16 clubs to register to play in the Tournament and they would be divided into four Zones. The date of birth cut-off point would be on or after September 1, 2016. A proud Foster stated the BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 would be the 44th tournament to be hosted by the vibrant Cricket Board since the new administration took over in February 2018.
Over the last 18 months, the BCB has organised tournaments at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Female, Internal Zone, Intermediate, Double Wickets, Primary School, Secondary School, Second and First Division levels. The Cricket Board in 2019 would also be hosting an Under-23 Tournament as it strives to uphold the high standard it has set itself.
Foster has spearheaded a massive marketing drive for the BCB which has netted over $18 million in finance and kind. He expressed gratitude to Trophy Stall Managing Director Ramesh Sunich for his continued confidence in Berbice cricket. The company is already a sponsor of an Under-19 Tournament in the Upper Corentyne area and recently donated trophies for the top two awards at the third Annual Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony.
Foster assured Sunich that the Tournament would be properly organised and the BCB would make sure that his business, especially its Port Mourant branch, was properly promoted. Sunich, in his remarks, stated that he was delighted to be associated with Berbice cricket, which he described as the best organised in Guyana. The popular businessman stated that he readily agreed to sponsor the Tournament via his Port Mourant branch as he was pleased with the development taking place in Berbice cricket.
Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing campaign to develop new talent in Berbice, the BCB would be hosting its second annual Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy in early August while the countywide coaching programme is ongoing. The BCB is also on the verge of completing its first-ever Young Cricketer Information Booklet in conjunction with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC).
The booklet will be distributed free of cost to clubs across Berbice with each Berbice cricketer in the county getting a copy as the BCB strives to make sure that every young cricketer fully understands their roles as sports ambassadors of the county.
