RHTY&SC’s annual cricket academy: Bakewell-powered cricket academy bowls off on July 18th

…Over 120 youths to attend

Apart from 2020 and 2021, the years when the novel coronavirus was on the rampage, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) has, since its formation in 1990, hosted an annual cricket academy as part of its cricket developmental programme.

The club is forging ahead with plans for a massive two-week academy, which close to 120 youths are expected to attend. Plans for the academy received a major boost last Friday when Bakewell, RHTY&SC’s long-time sponsor, came on board with a major sponsorship.
RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has disclosed that the academy is very important for the future of the club, as it would ensure that players are identified for future inclusion in the club’s under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams.
During the two years mentioned above, when the club was unable to host the academy, a major setback had confronted its junior section. In 2022, special emphasis would be placed on females, with the club looking to attract close to 20 girls between the age of 10 and 14 years. A battery of four coaches would conduct the academy, and they would be on the lookout for promising talents while improving their charges’ techniques and knowledge of the game.
The coaches would include Winston Smith and Delbert Hicks, while Foster would head the organising committee for the academy, which would be held at the Area H Ground and in the compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School. Sessions would be from 9:00am to 1:00 pm daily starting from July 18 and ending on August 2.
The RHTY&SC would provide all the necessary gear and equipment for the academy, while lunch/snacks would also be provided. The youths would also be involved in classroom sessions on topics of interest to them, including the importance of discipline, history of cricket, role of a sports ambassador, table manners, fielding positions, public speaking, rules of cricket, and public manners.
Foster has disclosed that the club is determined to develop its players on and off the cricket field, as most of them would not go on to play cricket at the professional level. Each of the youths at the academy would receive a school bag and educational materials, while numerous prizes would be up for grabs, including bicycles, tablets, food hampers, cricket uniforms, food hampers and household items.
The long time Secretary/CEO, who is also President of the Berbice Cricket Board, has said the academy would see participation of 50 youths from the Guyana Police Force Community Outreach Programme. Foster had made an offer to Region Six Commander Boodnarine Persaud to host the students, and the Commander readily accepted. The Region Six Police Division would provide transportation for the youths, who hail from across the region, to attend the academy.
Bakewell’s sponsorship would cover payment to coaches, obtaining gear for the academy, and providing educational materials for the class sessions. This company has been sponsoring the RHTY&SC’s Under-17 and Second division teams since 2000, and Foster has hailed the company for its continued support, especially after the two-year break due to COVID.
Special mention has been made of Bakewell’s General Manager Rajin Ganga and Secretary Natasha Bhikhari, who have been described as “close friends of the club and cricketers”. Over the years, the academy has produced hundreds of players for the club. Over 100 of those have gone on to play for either Berbice, Guyana, and/or the West Indies. They include Esaun and Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Jonathan Rampersaud, Shawn Pereira, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Shevon Marks, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Kevin Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Plaffina Millington, Shabaki Gajnabi
and Erva Giddings.
In his remarks, Ganga said that Bakewell is pleased to be associated with the club, as the club has always represented the Bakewell brand with pride and passion. Moreover, he expressed confidence that the academy would be a success.