THE second annual Under-17 cricket academy hosted by the Enterprise Busta Sports Club concluded Friday with close to 50 aspiring cricketers graduating with knowledge of the basics of the game. The camp, which started on Monday last, was coordinated by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ministry of Sport and conducted by NSC coaches Latchman Yadram and Daniel Richmond.
Delivering feature remarks at the closing ceremony in the auditorium of the Enterprise Busta Sports Club, Director of Sport Neil Kumar lauded the participants for dedicating their energies during the school holiday to a meaningful activity.
He, however, told the group of aspiring cricketers to give priority to their academic uplift, as a good education will bring them success in life.
“I understand that you must play cricket and sport, but your priority must be your school work. Your priority must be your academic,” he advised before presenting the beaming youngsters with their Certificate of Participation.
“You must make sure you go to school, and those who wrote the NGSA and were placed in Community Highs and Secondary Schools, you must ensure that you try your best to get at least six subjects at CSEC so you can continue studying.
“A proper education is a must. You must also try your best to become computer literate because the entire world is going in the direction of Information Technology.”
The Director of Sport also urged the youngsters to use some of their time away from school to view the London 2012 Olympics and the current Test series involving West Indies and New Zealand, so that they can improve on their cricketing skills and boost their knowledge on the various disciplines at the Olympics.
In his address, Yadram told the teenagers to make maximum use of the information they’ve gained over the five-day period, and disseminate it to their peers at their respective schools and clubs.
Yadram also used the opportunity to call on cricket administrators to act in the best interest of the game, noting that the divisions with the structure will only do harm.
Along with the actual training in cricket, the participants were exposed to lectures on several topical issues such as HIV/AIDS, Food and Nutrition and Leadership, among others.
Apart from Yadram and Richmond, the other resource personnel were Gervy Harry, Jitlal Jowharilall, Sheik Mohamed, Sammy Jaigobin, and officials from the Ministry of Health including Youlando Garnett, Orjean Moffat and Patricia Bobb.
Barring the NSC and the Sport Ministry, the academy also received support from Guyana Beverages Company, Ansa McAl Trading, Bissoondyal Singh, Bakewell, Boodram Bakery, Navin and Sons Construction, Tony’s Variety Store, Samaroo Jailall, Tiger Sports, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Sheik Mohamed and Shamieza Yadram.
The academy attracted participants from Enterprise Primary, President’s College, Bladen Hall Secondary, Annandale Secondary, Hope Secondary, Golden Grove Secondary, Buxton Community High, Beterverwagting Secondary, Apex Academy, La Bonne Intention Primary, Green Acres Primary, Helena Primary and Enterprise Busta Sports Club.
A similar academy will be held August 6-10 at Helena Number Two. This event will involve aspiring cricketers in the Mahaica/Mahaicony area.