West Berbice cricket boosted by BCB/Faizal Jaffarally MP Trust Fund

– clubs benefit from cricket balls and scorebooks

“West Berbice cricket has benefit greatly since my administration came into office in 2018, with numerous cricket tournaments and clubs receiving assistance on an unmatched scale. Your Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally has played a great part in these developments. He has been one of my greatest supporters, and today I want to specially thank him for his dedication and support.”
Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster as he spoke at the presentation ceremony for the second BCB/Jaffarally Trust Fund for cricket teams in Region Five.
Foster, along with BCB Secretary Angela Haniff and Competition Committee Chairman Leslie Soloman, visited the Cotton Tree Ground with the People’s Progressive Party Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally to share out two hundred and fifty thousand dollars’ worth of cricket balls and scorebooks to teams in West Berbice.
The Member of Parliament first sponsored the trust fund in 2022, and this year increased his contribution after last year assisting clubs with balls and wicket keeping gloves. This year, four clubs: Achievers, Cotton Tree, Bath and Bush Lot United, each received two boxes of red balls because they are involved in junior cricket in addition to second division, while one box of balls were presented to others who only play at the second division level. Among those were Police, D’ Edward, Shieldstown and Blairmont.
Each of the teams also received a scorebook under the trust fund. Foster stated that, since 2018, clubs in the area have benefitted from playing in numerous cricket tournaments at both the junior and senior levels, and have received a wide range of assistance that include items like grass-cutters, practice nets, cycles, school bags, cricket balls, scorebooks, water pitchers, cricket gear, catching cribs and educational materials, among other things.
Cricket at the secondary school level has also returned after an absence of a few years, while the game is now been played at the primary level. Secondary schools in the region have also benefitted from uniforms and gear under the BCB’s massive developmental programme, while primary schools have also benefitted from donation of much needed items like bats and tapeballs.
The region would soon benefit from a bowling machine and batting cage at a combined cost of over six hundred thousand dollars. Four cricket coaches who are employed under the Government of Guyana Job Programme are also based in the West Berbice area and are working with youths. The sub association also received a large pitch cover at the cost of over three hundred thousand dollars.
MP Jafarally was loud in his praise of the Hilbert Foster leadership of the game, and spoke of the many achievements over the years. He called on the teams to work together to achieve more success in the future. The MP pledged his future support, including his sponsorship of the Jaffarally 20/20 tournament, which would now be played on a round robin basis in 2023, and would start shortly with twelve teams divided into three zones. The defending champion D’ Edward CC is expected to be strongly challenged by the other teams for the championship in 2023, with Achievers, Cotton Tree and Bush Lot United being the main challengers.
President of the West Berbice Cricket Association, David Black, expressed thanks to both Foster and Jaffarally for their continued interest in West Berbice cricket.