Poonai’s Pharmacy renews cricket sponsorship for RHTY&SC U-11 and U-13 teams

The leading pharmacy in Berbice, Poonai’s Pharmacy of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, has renewed its sponsorship of the Under-11 and Under-13 cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organization, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club. This was done at the Pharmacy’s office at Public Road in Independence Avenue, Rose Hall Town.
Management of this popular Pharmacy have been long-time supporters of the club and its numerous activities before officially coming on board as the official sponsors of the teams.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who is also president of the Berbice Cricket Board, has said the pharmacy’s relationship with the Under-13 team has been very successful, while the Under-11 team was formed this year in response to the BCB’s developmental programme.
The BCB has major plans to hold an Under-9 tournament in 2024, and Foster has said that a team would shortly be formed. The current Under-13 team is led by national player Tameshwar Deonandand, while Leon Reddi is his deputy. The Under-11 team is been led by Darvesh Narine.
RHTY&SC cricket officials Robby Kissoonlall, Tyron Pottaya and Keith Hicks are responsible for the team. The coaches attached to the youths are head coach Winston Smith, Ryan Kissoonlall and Ryan Algu.
Foster, in expressing gratitude to the Managing Director of Poonai’s Pharmacy for his continued support of the team, noted that Poonai’s Pharmacy also supports numerous programmes under the club’s theme of charity, education, community development, awards, Christmas Village and medical, among other themes.
Under sponsorship of the Poonai’s Pharmacy, the Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Under-23 team has won two Berbice championships and has twice been runner-up. The team has produced a total of three national players – Reddi, Deonandand and promising fast bowler Raffel McKenzie. A total of nine others has also represented Berbice at the inter-county level.
Cricket Manager Robby Kissoonlall has said the two teams were nurseries of the RHTY&SC cricket system, which produces cricketers for the under-15, under-17 and under- 19 levels. The RHTY&SC, he proudly stated, has a very high standard to uphold, with over 100 major titles in its cupboard while it has, since 1995, produced over 120 players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies combined. Among them are Asad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Esan Crandon, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Kevlon Anderson, Dominic Rikhi, Askay Homraj, and Delbert Hicks.
In 2023, the club produced 15 national players at all levels, while six of its members are currently playing in the male and female tournaments. The teams have also successfully completed a total of 34 self-developmental programmes under the sponsorship, and with the guidance of management and other RHTY&SC teams.
The programmes include feeding the needy, food hampers for families, tributes to firemen, tributes to teachers, cricket academy, summer camp, and assistance to schools.
The Sponsor, Mr Poonai, has said he is delighted to be associated with an organization that has impacted thousands of people’s lives. He noted that his business is being well promoted by the RHTY&SC and he is very proud of the teams’ achievements over the years.