… Van Lange urges GCA to help develop players academically
Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) launched its 2022 First-Division 2-day competition on Tuesday at the General & Industrial Supplies Enterprise (GISE) head office on Church Street. GISE is co-sponsor of the competition alongside Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall.
GISE representative Verlene Van Lange
Speaking at the simple ceremony was GCA President Neil Barry Sr, who showered the GISE with praise for coming on board yet again to sponsor the tournament.
Barry said, “On behalf of the GCA, we wish to extend our sincere gratitude, this group has been very significant to us. We recently completed the 2019 tournament due to COVID and now we are launching the 2022 tournament. First-Division cricket as you mentioned is the closest step from the Georgetown level to prepare our players for inter-county, then the national [level] and go on to West Indian cricket.”
GCA President Neil Barry Sr
Barry also noted that the two-day version of cricket is where the cricketers learn to craft their skills, develop them and learn to become Test cricketers. He further relayed that the two-day version was also beneficial in preparing the players for the T20 and 50-over formats.
“The game of cricket also demands a lot from a young cricketer – participation, especially from Test level. Because as times change and as the game goes through the different days and different sessions, one has to be fully alert and concentrate. The GCA is cognisant of that and we do have some programmes in place, starting from as young as the primary school level which will be launched shortly, where we will be engaging the young students to get involved in the game of cricket,” Barry explained.
He further divulged that the GCA was looking to develop a female programme as cricket was open to everyone. Barry also made mention that he would accept the challenge of focusing on the development of athletes not only in the field of cricket but in the academic arena.
GCA President Neil Barry Sr receives the sponsorship cheque from GISE representative Verlene Van Lange, alongside Roger Harper
Also sharing her sentiments was GISE representative Verlene Van Lange, who restated her company’s commitment to cricket in Georgetown. Van Lange shared the history of GISE founder Yadram Rajkumar, whose vision was to afford youths the opportunity to play sports, an opportunity which he never had. Van Lange explained that the sponsorship was aimed at facilitating players to aspire to become future members of the West Indies cricket team.
“Over the years, research has shown the strong relationship between cricket and academia. To become efficient and excel at any sport requires dedication and practice to that sport. This dedication used to develop oneself can be applied to academia. Consequently, we would like to challenge the GCA to not only focus on the performance of the players on the field, but also play a significant role in ensuring that players are exposed to classes, in order for them to be a well-rounded Guyanese sports personality,” Van Lange posited.
She noted that this education would equip the players to speak well publicly and inspire other young men to become future cricketers.
All GCA cricket matches can be followed live on https://cricclubs.com/GeorgetownCricketAssociation.
