THE Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) yesterday launched its 16th annual Cricket Academy with TCL Guyana Incorporated as the official sponsor for the programme.

This undertaking is TCL’s second consecutive year, and according to TCL Plant Manager Mark Bender, after seeing how the event impacted last year, their response to the request for this year’s sponsorship was without hesitation.
Bender handed over a cheque to secretary of the RHTYSC, Hilbert Foster, worth $200 000
Bender disclosed that he was very impressed with the impact the programme had on the youths especially with the social challenges they have to face every day.
Cricket, he said, is the catalyst they are using to help them get useful counselling because they would not willingly take such independent steps.
The Plant Manager went on to wish the Sports Club another successful year with the programme and on a separate note, he wished Foster the best in his future endeavours.
Recently, Foster became ill and was off the job for about three weeks. He said the doctor ordered him to lighten his workload and it is with this advice that Foster has resigned from the Berbice Cricket Board committee with immediate effect and has toned down his workload at the RHTYSC.
Foster said, “Over the last fifteen years, the RHTYSC has catered for its future on the cricket field by hosting an annual cricket academy for its young members. The last 15 academies have been very successful in moulding the cricketing talent of many youths including Test players Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Shemaine Campbelle and others.”
“The club is extending an invitation to other clubs in Berbice to send some of their members to this year’s cricket academy as it’s our aim to assist other clubs to develop,” he continued.
Each club would be limited to three members since the target is 120 youths, both male and female.
The academy  will be conducted by coaches Winston Smith, Michael Hyles-Franco and Renwick Boston daily from 09:00hrs to 14:00hrs.
Special emphasis would be placed on batting, bowling, fielding, physical fitness, while classroom lectures would be held on a series of important topics including HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, history of cricket, importance of education and personal hygiene.