Dr Singh commits $1.3M to BCB for coaching programmes, Cricket Academy

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has already raised $2.5 million worth of sponsorship in two weeks for 2020 as it forges ahead with its unmatched cricket development programme.

This represents 25 per cent of the targeted $10 million the Board has set as its goal.
Overseas-based Guyanese Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, on Saturday last, confirmed sponsorship for 2020 to the tune of approximately $1.3 million.
The Texas-based Berbician since February 2018 has invested more than $4 million of his own funds to assist the Hilbert Foster-led administration to fulfil its mandate.
Foster welcomed the sponsorship from Dr Singh and stated that the doctor was one of the main reasons his presidency has been successful.
Dr Singh has sponsored a countywide coaching programme at the cost of $860,000, and has also assisted with the third annual BCB Cricket Academy, scheduled for July.
These events will be the main programme in a comprehensive Berbice-wide developmental effort to unearth new talent. Since Foster’s election, the Board has invested heavily in the development of youths and the BCB boss stated that much more would be done during his second term.
With Dr Singh’s sponsorship, the BCB intends to also host four major two-day coaching clinics in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Upper Corentyne/Black Bush Polder and Lower/Central Corentyne.
The BCB is aiming to coach at least 70 youths between the ages of 11 and 19 in each sub-zone, for a combined 280 participants. The Coaches to feature at the programme are Winston Smith, Delbert Hicks, Leslie Solomon, and Balram Samaroo. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying female youths as the BCB continues to invest heavily in female cricket.
At the end of the coaching programme, the Coaches will select 70 players to participate in the third annual Dr Singh Cricket Academy from August 3-August 7. They will also take part in several special one-day clinics for batsmen, fast bowlers, wicketkeepers, and spinners.
Apart from on-field coaching, the Academy participants will be involved in extensive classwork using the historic BCB-Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC) Youth Information booklet.
Among the topics to be covered are the importance of education for sportsmen, how to handle on interviews, ways of dismissals, cricket field positions, table manners, how to behave at a public ceremony, personal hygiene and appearance, importance of religion, peer pressure, history of cricket and rules/laws of cricket.
The preparation of all Berbice teams are also covered under the sponsorship. Foster expressed confidence that the coaching panel led by Smith would do a good job, and all the youths would benefit and become better players and individuals.
He expressed his gratitude to Dr Singh for his massive investment, and reassured him that his funds would be used for the intended purposes.
Dr Singh, who received the BCB highest award, Tribute to Heroes in 2019, stated that he was very impressed with the work of the Berbice Board, its feedback to sponsors and accountability for his funds.
The BCB, he stated, makes sure that he is regularly updated about the sponsored programmes with reports and photos.