Foster urges graduates of Albion CC to uphold Club’s rich tradition and make Education a priority
BCB President Hilbert Foster handing over a special prize to a graduate of the Albion Academy
President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, last week urged 43 graduates of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club’s annual cricket academy to work hard to uphold the high tradition of the prestigious club.
The Albion CC, founded over sixty years ago, has a sterling reputation of producing top class players for Berbice, Guyana, and the West Indies; thus the BCB President encouraged the players to follow in the footsteps of the Club’s legends.
As he has done widely since being elected President in February 2018, the hardworking Foster spoke at length on the importance of having an education, and pleaded with the academy’s participants to say in school and obtain a good education.
He said that, in today’s modern world, all sportsmen and sportswomen are expected to deal with the media, sponsors, agents and the general public. Natural talent could take a player only that far, while a good education would open doors of opportunity, as has been done for players like Darren Ganga, Ian Bishop, Brian Lara, Michael Holding and Jeffrey Dujon.
Foster also urged the players to develop a culture of hard work, discipline and dedication, respect for the elderly, and a love of making a positive difference in the lives of those less fortunate than themselves.
Pledging the full support of his administration for the development of cricket at the junior level, Foster announced that, in 2019, the Berbice Cricket Board would host tournaments at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 levels; while he said numerous developmental programmes are being organized, including the Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme and Annual Cricket Academy.
Having worked tirelessly to unite Berbice Cricket over the last eighteen months, Foster has hailed outstanding leadership of the Albion Cricket Club, and made special mention of persons like Vemen Walter, Orvin Mangru, O. Outar.
He urged sister clubs in Berbice to follow in the footsteps of the Albion Cricket Club and develop programmes to attract young players to their membership.
On behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Ms, where he serves as Secretary/CEO, Foster donated trophies, medals, cricket balls, educational materials and scorebooks to the Albion Club, and presented special prizes to three players of the academy.
Young Berbice player Damian Cecil, whom Foster described as a future West Indies player, received a pair of batting pads. Most Disciplined Player, N. Shiwpersaud, received two special prizes; while Most Promising Player, Tameshwar Mohamed, received an educational package and a bicycle.
The Club, Foster disclosed, will shortly receive more assistance in form of white shirts, water pitchers and youth information booklets.
The Albion Cricket Club has produced five Test cricketers in Sew Shivnarine, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Devandra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul.
