Rising Stars cricket club aim for first-division status

The Rising Stars cricket club have copped the runners-up spot in the Cyril Bonar Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament played in Suriname; and captain Elroy Fernandes, pleased with his team’s performance, has said that 2019 has been the most dominant year for his side.

Asked about his team’s performance in 2019, Fernandes told Guyana Times Sport: “For us, it’s a great opportunity. We have played against players that (have) played for Guyana, and even those that are currently selected to play franchise cricket. For a team (resident) on the West Demerara, (whose) selector or chairman has never (been) called to a franchise, and to see the amount of talent that we have, we feel we have been victimised.
“Nevertheless, it was a tremendous feeling competing in the finals and (getting) to see what we can accomplish as a team. I am positive that the mistakes that we made this year, we will not be making (them) next year, as we will be coming for the trophy.
“I know that, for a team that isn’t recognized in Guyana, we have lots of talent; and I’m confident that we will soon produce players that are worthy to represent Guyana at all levels of cricket.”
Fernandes explained that his desire is to showcase this team to Guyana by having the team travel to various communities to participate in competitions. He declared it his intention that, through recognition, players would be able to play cricket at a higher level and provide for their families.
He also said that, besides playing cricket, the club assists in providing employment for its players, and he believes that he should be able to use his platform to invest in the lives of the club’s players.
His fervent desire, he said, is to be able to upgrade this team to First Division status and continue the off-field work currently ongoing by investing in the lives of its players.
Fernandes is optimistic that his side would do exceptionally well come 2020