T&T’s Valley Boys support youth cricket gear initiative

The Valley Boys Sports and Cultural Club’s Over-50 cricket team of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has made a cash donation to the “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” project.
The contribution was presented at the end of Valley Boys’ goodwill tour match against North Soesdyke. The visiting club, which has existed for more than 60 years and is described as the oldest cricket institution in T&T, recently completed its tour of Guyana.
Speaking on behalf of Valley Boys, Pramesh Seheult said the team was impressed by the initiative and the number of young cricketers it has assisted over the years.
“We are pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular,” Seheult said.
Anil Beharry, who manages the project jointly with Kishan Das of the United States, thanked Valley Boys for its support. He said the money would assist the project in purchasing requested cricket equipment that is not currently available.
Since its establishment, the initiative has directly assisted 107 male and female players from Guyana’s three counties. Many others have benefited through donations made to clubs, schools, academies, cricket boards and community organisations.
Several beneficiaries have progressed to represent Guyana and the West Indies at various levels, further demonstrating the project’s impact on youth development.
So far, the project has received or purchased $843,146 worth of cash support and an extensive collection of equipment. The items include 13 coloured uniforms, a set of stumps, two trophies, 36 pairs of cricket shoes, 40 pairs of batting pads, 49 bats, 48 pairs of batting gloves, 29 thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, 15 gear bags, 13 bat rubbers, seven helmets, a fibreglass bat, a floppy hat, 18 boxes, and four individual white balls, 13 boxes of red balls, a bat cone, batting inners and 28 footballs.
Former national wicketkeeper-batsman Sheik Mohammed also contributed equipment valued at more than $600,000.
Direct distributions to players have included cash, 11 gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 43 bats, five boxes, six helmets, 38 pairs of cricket shoes, 23 pairs of batting pads, 25 thigh pads, a bat grip, 42 pairs of batting gloves, wicketkeeping pads, and four pairs of wicketkeeping gloves.
Two clubs in the Pomeroon received two used bats, while the Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam cricket committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard received a box of red balls each. Cold Fusion Cricket Club received 13 coloured uniforms, while Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club was presented with six boxes of balls, 15 white cricket shirts, junior batting pads, wicketkeeping gloves and inners, and two sets of stumps and bails.
Other organisations and communities assisted include the Essequibo Cricket Board, the town of Lethem, Upper Corentyne male and female teams, Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy, the West Demerara Cricket Association, Georgetown Cricket Club, Bush Lot United Sports Club, Blairmont Cricket Club, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Port Mourant Cricket Club, the Demerara Cricket Board, and Precision Sports.
Support also reached Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive, JC Chandisingh, Tagore Memorial, Berbice High, Skeldon Line Path, and New Amsterdam secondary schools.
All new and used cricket equipment is distributed free of cost. Recipients are chosen based on talent, skill, discipline, and commitment to education, while club officials help the organisers to identify promising players. Progressive and properly managed clubs with youth programmes are also considered for assistance.
Distribution will continue across Guyana. Persons interested in contributing may contact Beharry on 623-6875 or Das on +1-718-664-0896.