Glasgow, Samaroo are top awardees at successful Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy

The curtains came down on the 2nd annual Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy during a presentation ceremony at No 63 Beach, Upper Corentyne. The 70 students of the Academy and the coaching panel on Saturday last visited the historic No 63 Beach for the final coaching session, fun cricket matches and closing ceremony.

Guyana Under-19 player Seon Glasgow copped the Male Cricketer of the Academy while former National Youth female player Marian Samaroo won the female award after being selected by the panel of five coaches headed by Level Three Coach Winston Smith.
Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster hailed the Academy as an overwhelming success and another fruitful investment into youths by the very vibrant Cricket Board. Foster stated that all of the objectives of Academy were achieved and all of the young cricketers have emerged as better players, have a better knowledge of the game and understood their roles as sports ambassadors.
Foster urged the attentive cricketers, in the blazing heat at the No 63 Beach, to remain focused and to put into practice what they have learnt on the daily practice. He committed the BCB to continue investing heavily into their future in an effort to get everyone to fulfil his/her full potential on the cricket field. Foster, as he has done since his election in February 2018, spoke on the importance of education, personal discipline and saying no to the evil ways of Satan.
He also informed the youths that under his leadership, the BCB would on an annual basis organise tournaments from the Under-13 to Under-21 levels, and would continue to organise dozens of developmental programmes every year. The hosting of a Two-Day First Division Tournament, Social Skills Programme, and construction of an all-weather outdoor practice venue, gears for promising youth players, and the publication of a Youth Information Booklet are some of the upcoming investments of the BCB into youth development.
Head Coach Winston Smith hailed the hard work, discipline and dedication of the players. Smith praised the BCB for its very aggressive coaching programme and urged the youths to take full advantage of the Hilbert Foster-led administration investment in their future. The Level Three coach also announced that regular Coaching Clinics would be held for the rest of the year as the BCB strives to prepare for the 2020 Inter-county Tournaments.
Director of the Academy and BCB Public Relations Officer, Simon Naidu, expressed satisfaction at the outstanding work of Smith, Leslie Solomon, Delbert Hicks, Balram Samaroo and Ameer Rahaman. He noted that the Academy had a 98% daily attendance rate, but the BCB has noted the absence of about five players for the entire Academy without an excuse. This form of indiscipline, Naidu stated, would form part of the BCB consideration in the selection of all 2020 Inter-county Teams.
Apart from Seon Glasgow and Marian Samaroo, the following players also received awards:
a) Most Discipline – Doorsammy Mahadeo
b) Most Discipline (Junior) – Shiv Harripersaud
c) Most Improved – Ramsammy Ramnauth
d) Most Committed – Shamar Angel
e) Most Promising- Trisa Hardat
f) Most Improved (Female)- Ashmini Muniswar
The BCB would like to express gratitude to Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh for his US$2 000 investment, GuySuCo Vemen Walter, Orvin Mangru, Imran Khan, RHTY&SC, Roger Mc Donald. Special thanks also to the Town Clerk of Rose Hall Town Council for the release of Winston Smith.