Kwakwani Sports Development Programme boosted as TMT Global Inc. invests
Guyanese company TMT Global Inc. recently launched a comprehensive youth sports programme in the Kwakwani area. Called the Kwakwani Sports Programme (KSP), its aim is to promote, coach and increase sports participation in the community year round.
As a result of the TMT initiative, a new sports club was formed. Called the Kwakwani United Sports Club, it will now be the governing body for all the sporting disciplines in Kwakwani.
TMT Global Inc. (TMT) is a Canadian-owned Guyanese company that operates in the Kwakwani area. Presently, it has on staff 16 workers from Kwakwani, and plans to expand the workforce with the opening of a saw-mill in Kwakwani later this year.
Kwakwani is a well-known sporting community with a rich history in basketball. Basketball has been a successful sport, as the teams from Kwakwani dominate most of the annual basketball competitions held by the Guyana Basketball Association at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Cricket and basketball have been chosen as the two key sports for development. A successful basketball programme is already being run by Annie Gordon and national basketball player Dave Causway, and TMT will work with this existing program to support and assist moving forward.
D’Andrade is a former national youth player and graduate of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Studies; a double major in Sport Management and Sport Development.
D’Andrade, who previously served as the Development Officer at the Guyana Cricket Board from 2015-2017, met Mr Neilson in December 2018 to formulate a development programme which would be aimed at organising and managing different sports, and assist in upgrading facilities and coaching.
Cricket in Kwakwani is a dying sport, and the community requires updated facilities and equipment. TMT is funding the purchase of equipment and the rehabilitation of the cricket field. The KSP is now implementing cricket sessions in the afternoons from 16:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs, three days per week.
Aspiring coaches from the area will be identified to attend the Guyana Cricket Board coaching courses. Coaching will be provided in both the Kwakwani Primary and Secondary Schools.