THE Guyana Floodlights Cricket Association (GFCA) A&B teams departed today to participate in the 2010 annual Florida Cup 25-over softball cricket tournament commencing on Friday at Fort Lauderdale Cricket Park. Captain of the A team, Ricky Deonarain, stated that his side is ready for the battle as they are pumped up and anxious to represent Guyana.
GFCA two teams along with ten other sides are expected to feature in this year’s tournament. The other participating teams coming from New York, who are the deafening champions, Orlando, Florida (South and North), a Canada team as well among others.
Deonarain, a veteran classy softball, middle-order batsman, reckoned that once the two teams play to their true potential, victories for the over-40 category and the open division will be certain.
“I think we have two balanced teams, and it is just a matter of going out there and execute our game plan; the boys have been showing a lot of enthusiasms over the past weeks during our preparation and that has given me the confidence of us doing well,” Deonarain revealed.
Several sponsors are on board to make the teams’ trip a reality and those are Top Brandz of 40 Goedverwagting Road, ECD who are agent for Interstate Batteries, Metro Office & Computer Supplies of 127 A Quamina Street, Georgetown, The Guyana Lottery Company of 357 Lamaha Street, Georgetown, Monroe Shocks, Struts and Brakes of the USA, with their local agent being Ramchand Auto Spares of Sheriff Street and Steve Jewellery of Church Street, Georgetown.
Anchor Seafood’s and Nachi Fujikoshi Corp. are also sponsors of the Floodlight Teams. The teams depart early this morning and take part in the tournament will run from February 13-15.
The championship game will be played at the Fort Lauderdale Cricket Stadium.
A large number of overseas Guyanese players will be representing North America teams. Former Guyana and West Indies batsman Faoud Bacchus, ex-national opening batsman Andrew Gonsalves among other will be on show.
For the local team, wicketkeeper/batsman Richard Persaud is set to make his first appearance on the North America soil, while 65-year-old Wilfred White and former Essequibo under-19 batsman Ravendra Mandolall are also making their debut.
Floodlights A&B Squads are as follows: Ricky Deonarain (Capt. A team), Jailall Deodass (Capt B team), Lakhram Singh, Rahaman Khan, Ramchand Ragbeer, Bedi Ramjewan, Derick Ramotar, Pitamber Maharaj, Steve Narine, Gopaul Boj-raj, Surendranand Nauth, Dru Bahadur, Wilfred White, Ganesh Singh, Richard Persaud, Anil Manickchand, Patrick Khan, Eshwar Persaud, Mahadeo Dudnauth, Harishchand Ketwaroo, Armogan Gopaul, Jerry Gaznabbi, Ray Amnay, Doodnauth Sookhram, Rovendra Mandolall and Narinedat Roy.