By Ravi Madholall in Toronto
The Ontario Masters team is highly confident of making a huge impact in this year’s Guyana Cup 6 which will be run once again under the auspices of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association from November 4-6.
With 14 teams featuring in the veteran category and 10 sides competing in the Open Division, the Ontario Masters boys are anxious to pocket the lucrative $600, 000 first prize and a trophy.
Manager of the side Azeem Khan related that the guys are eager to do well and return to North America as a champion unit. The team is being selected from the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) over-40 and 50 tournaments that recently concluded in the Greater Toronto Area.
Khan, who is also the current president of the OMSCC, mentioned the team initially struggled to form since an extremely large number of selected players could not have been available owing to various and personal reasons.
However, Khan is satisfied now that he is able to field a team to participate in this historical softball tournament which will be run for three consecutive days in Guyana’s capital, Georgetown.
“We [are] confident of doing well in Guyana; we should have a very competitive side to match the skills of the other participants as well,” Khan divulged.
Khan related that his organization will be hosting its second bi-annual Toronto Cup in 2017 probably in late August and those teams from Guyana, Florida, Canada and New York are expected to participate too.
“We had a fantastic tournament in 2015 and the important thing we got excellent support from the GFSCA; we are still thankful to them and we want to show similar support in their tournament; apart from that I think those guys have been doing a terrific job not only for the softball cricketers and fans but to help the youths; it is certainly admirable,” Khan declared.
According to the OMSCC leader, he and his executives will start off with the preparatory aspect for next year’s Toronto Cup. What was commendable in the inaugural staging 14 teams took part.
In the Open category, six teams competed and those were: the champion New York Enforcers, GM Sports, Ontario Softball Cricket League, runners-up Dant Cricket Club, Caribbean Sensation and New York Softball Cricket League.
In the Masters Division, there were eight teams featured and those: winner Guyana Floodlights Masters, Tri-States Masters, Caribbean Sensation Masters, New York Softball Cricket League Legends, New York Muslims Association, runners-up Our Own Cricket Club and OMSCC X1.
Quizzed on the combination of the touring squad, Khan, who still plays the game representing Guyana Sports in the over-50 section, feels they have a good and balanced side to be outstanding.
“Well, the last time we competed in 2014, we did relatively well to reach the quarter-final and the good thing is that some of those players returning and that will boost our confidence tremendously since they have got the experience now; teams will definitely come out har
