GBC strengthens relationship with organising club

… sponsors tournament to tune of $1.5M

TEN YEARS ago, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) with the blessings of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), conceptualised the idea to host a ‘Champion of Champions’ knockout cricket tournament, featuring the top eight clubs in the Ancient County of Berbice.
Having worked out the logistics and budget for the tournament, the club consulted the Guyana Beverage Company Inc. (GBC) for sponsorship and was successful, hence the birth of the tournament under the sponsor’s Busta brand of products.
Yesterday, a proud Robert Selman, Managing Director of GBC Inc. expressed his pleasure at partnering with the RHTYSC for the past 10 years with this tournament, saying he has never had any hesitation to sponsor the tournament when asked, since accountability and credibility are two key words that govern Guyana’s most successful youth and sports club.
“The RHTYSC is one of the best run clubs in Guyana with great accountability and if I did not have confidence in the club and the way they organise and execute the Busta ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament, I would not have entertained them over the years,” said Selman.
He added, “One of the main sports in Berbice is cricket and the GBC’s main focus, as I have said time and time again, is to give back to the people of Guyana through sports and with the RHTYSC organising this tournament, we have seen a way to do so to the people in Berbice for the past 10 years and that is why we are pumping $1.5M into this year’s tournament.
When we were approached to sponsor this tournament, we decided we will go with it because we felt we must do something for the people of Berbice. In addition, the club has records for everything they have done and with accountability being a key factor in any sporting organisation, we are pleased to say that we are happy with what we have seen from the club over the years.”
Selman reminded all and sundry, that the GBC is only the sponsor and not the organiser of the tournament, and his office would not be entertaining any complaints from individuals who are not comfortable with how the tournament is being executed, no matter what.
“However, I would expect persons to honour and respect our brand at all times and the RHTYSC has been doing that for the last 10 years and we are satisfied with the way they have respected the brand, while they have made Busta a household name in Berbice and we are thankful to that,” said Selman, who promised to continue his company’s partnership with the club in the future.
In his remarks given on behalf of the club, RHTYSC’s Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster thanked Selman and his staff for their positive response to his application for sponsorship once again, saying that the ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament has developed into a premier one in Berbice.
“This year, the tournament would be extra special for us, as it would be the 10th edition and for the Busta Company to be on board for 10 years is quite remarkable, since we all know that sponsorship of cricket is not too popular in these times.
This sponsorship clearly reflects the confidence shown by the GBC in the organising skills of the RHTYSC and it also shows the remarkable bond between the top eight teams in Berbice, namely West Berbice, Blairmont, Universal Solutions Bermine, Albion, Universal DVD Young Warriors, Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne and Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG)” said Foster.
When the tournament commenced a decade ago, the winning team took home $50 000 and a trophy and the runners-up half of that amount. This year, the victorious team will pocket $100 000 and the Busta ‘Champion of Champions’ trophy, with the runners-up receiving half of that and a trophy.
The Man-of-the-Match in the final, which will be broadcast live on NCN Radio once again, making it the lone first division final to have such privileges in Guyana, will pocket $15 000 and a trophy while the organizers, through the kind generosity of the sponsor, will be outfitting all teams and umpires with Busta T-shirts.
With regard to the disturbance which plagued last year’s tournament, the RHTYSC would like to inform all teams that no form of indiscipline would be tolerated, adding that all decisions of the umpires must be respected.
“Any team that shows disrespect to umpiring decisions, break up or stop matches to protest an umpire’s decision or decisions, would be thrown out of the competition and would not be considered for future tournaments, while only players who are registered with the respective clubs for 2013 are allowed to play,” said Foster.
According to Foster, the action was to bowl off this weekend but was pushed back since the Guyana Cricket Board is expected to commence their GT&T/Hand-in-Hand-sponsored four-team four-day tournament sometime this week.
However, when the tournament does get under way, the opening round fixtures are as follows, with the host team being mentioned last: Upper Corentyne go up against RHTGG, West Berbice meet Albion, Blairmont clash with Universal DVD Young Warriors and Universal Solutions Bermine take on Port Mourant.
Foster expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Selman and his team, especially GBC Inc’s Marketing Manager Shameiza Yadram on behalf of the RHTYSC, before the cheque was handed over by a proud Selman himself.

(By Calvin Roberts)