Historic moment as Malteenoes get first-ever driving roller

Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) marked a historic milestone on Tuesday after receiving its first-ever driving roller since the club’s establishment in 1901. The equipment was officially handed over by the Minister within the sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs, as part of the Government of Guyana’s ongoing support for sports development across the country.
During the brief presentation, Minister Jacobs explained that the donation forms part of a wider initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to provide essential equipment to sporting facilities nationwide.
“Malteenoes has been in existence since the 1900s, 1901 to be exact, and they have never had a driving roller,” Jacobs said. “The Ministry has been donating equipment right across the entire country, and we saw the need here for Malteenoes. This club has produced a number of national players, and pitch preparation is very key and vital to the development of talent.”

He noted that proper pitch preparation is essential for improving the quality of training and matches, adding that the roller will assist the club in preparing a more suitable surface for players.
The Sport Minister also revealed that the Ministry recently donated a lawn mower to the Georgetown Cricket Club to support ground maintenance there.
Highlighting the Government’s commitment to sports, Jacobs said investments in community grounds and sporting infrastructure across Guyana are at an unprecedented level.
“This is obviously led by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who sees sport as a vital part of our development and the development of youths,” Jacobs said. “We will continue to support facilities across the country. However, once the infrastructure and equipment are provided, the athletes must show the commitment and discipline to develop their talent.”
Head coach of Malteenoes Sports Club, Quasen Nedd, welcomed the donation, describing the roller as a much-needed addition to the club’s resources.
“The roller will be a much-needed resource for us to prepare the ideal surface for batters and bowlers to have a good practice,” Nedd shared. “Before this, we struggled with actually pulling a roller and not having one of our own. A good, well-prepared surface is essential for quality practice and competitive games.”
Nedd added that while the club still has a long way to go in terms of facilities compared to more developed cricketing nations, the donation represents a positive step forward.
“In many developed cricket countries you see lights, indoor facilities and artificial turf,” he said. “There’s still a lot that can be done, but we are very appreciative of the initiative that was handed over.”
The donation is expected to significantly improve pitch preparation at the historic club and further support the development of cricketing talent within the community.