… GCA/GDA launches Under-17 T20 tourney
OVER the past week, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has focused its attention on track and youth development across the city.
However, while the vibrant association was able to build partnerships with a number of agencies, youth development at the Under-13, U-15, and U-17 levels was the specifically targeted.
After securing sponsorships for the Under-13 and U-15 tournaments, the GCA yesterday partnered with the Guyana Diabetic Association (GDA), Ansa McAl and other health stakeholders to launch the third edition of the Under-17 T20 competition scheduled to begin today with four matches.
At a simple launching ceremony held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) pavilion, president of the Guyana Diabetic Association, Glynis Alonzo-Beaton, said while the association embarked on a partnership for diabetes awareness, cricket can be used to help manage diabetes because it promotes team work, helps devise strategy and encourages discipline.
“Management of diabetes comes with a team. ‘It’s the family, it’s the community, it’s the doctors, the nurses, you name them we have to work with them because diabetes affects the entire body, and unless we work as a team, we cannot get proper management; thus the cricket competition today (yesterday).
“We are looking forward to continue team spirit and team support, but the most important thing is that young boys are made aware of diabetes,” Alonzo-Beaton said.
She pointed out that the tournament plays an important role for the association, since testing for the non-communicable diseases at an early age will be a priority for each participating cricketer.
The GDA president urged the youths to remain disciplined throughout the tournament and at the same time she called on parents to give their full support.
Ansa McAl representative Kalawattie Datt-Singh expressed her company’s enthusiasm with the venture, which is aimed at raising awareness of the disease.
Meanwhile, president of GCA, Roger Harper, said in his remarks, that the GCA has embarked on a youth cricket extravaganza during this Easter vacation.
Harper, the former West Indies vice-captain and off-spinner, pointed out that occupying youths meaningfully through the various cricket tournaments is just one of the GCA’s objectives.
He was happy to have the support of the various entities involved in the tournament, adding that the GCA was happy to be a part of diabetes awareness.
He noted that while the tournament will focus more on healthy lifestyle, cricketers must at the same time play the game with purpose and passion.
Eight teams will take part in the tournament which features two zones.
In the ‘A’ zone matches today GNIC will play St Stanislaus College while DCC will oppose Everest Cricket Club. Both games are set for DCC.
Zone ‘B’ will feature Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) hosting GCC while TSC will play GYO also at MSC.
After three rounds of action, the top team from Zone ‘A’ will oppose the second-best team from the ‘B’ Zone and vice versa in the two semi-finals on April 5. Semi-final one will be played under lights at DCC.
The final is billed for April 7 at DCC from 18:00hrs.
According to the playing conditions, players must be under 17 years and must be born on or after September 1, 2001 to be eligible to compete.
The playing conditions also state that fast bowlers must bowl eight of the allocated 20 overs. One batting bonus point will be awarded for every 30 runs scored up to 150 runs, so a team can earn a maximum of five batting bonus points.
