Poonai Pharmacy renews cricket sponsorship of RHTYSC U13 team

The popular Poonai Pharmacy of Rose Hall Town on Saturday renewed its sponsorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) Under-11 and Under-13 cricket teams during a simple ceremony at the Area H Ground.
The presentation was made by the pharmacy’s Chief Executive Officer, Poonai Bhigroog, to club cricket manager Robby Kissoonlall, in the presence of team members and club secretary Hilbert Foster.
Poonai Pharmacy first came on board as a sponsor of the Under-13 team in 2020, later extending support to the Under-11s in 2023. Since then, the Under-13s have lifted the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) title four times, including a thrilling 10-run victory over arch-rivals Albion last Saturday to claim their fourth championship in six years. During that period, the side has also finished as runners-up twice.
Kissoonlall credited the pharmacy’s support as a key factor in the team’s success. He also noted that the Under-11s made history in 2023 by winning the only tournament for their age group, defeating Albion in the final at the Chesney Ground. The teams, Kissoonlall stated, have already produced over 20 players for Berbice, with several representing Guyana, including Raffel Mckenzie, Tameshwar Deochand, Trishna Hardat, and Leon Reddy.
He explained that the Under-11 and Under-13 sides serve as the nursery for the club’s senior teams, which is why significant investment has been made in their development. This includes a special batting cage, bowling machine, batting mats, a 12-foot fence around the concrete pitch, and several batting centres at Area H Ground. Beyond cricket, the club also supports players’ educational pursuits, providing personal gear, bicycles, electronic tablets, uniforms, and school supplies.
Foster, the former three-term president of the BCB, expressed gratitude to Mr Bhigroog for his consistent sponsorship and wider support of the club’s programmes. He pledged that the junior teams would continue to uphold the highest standards. Foster also disclosed that preparations have already begun for the 2026 tournament, with a captain to be named shortly.
Team captain Jayden Ganpat highlighted that under the sponsorship, the squad has undertaken over three dozen community projects, including food hampers for the less fortunate, honouring mothers and fathers, the Republic Bank Summer Camp, school bag donations, medical outreaches, the Christmas Village, and toy distributions.
In a well-received speech, Mr Bhigroog expressed pride in being associated with the teams, praising them for representing his business brand with pride, passion, and commitment. He urged the young cricketers to strive for excellence both on the field and in their education. To loud applause, he also announced a special financial incentive for the squad in recognition of their successful title defence.