PRESIDENT of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Alfred Mentore last Tuesday night charged five of his young club members to be good ambassadors of the club, at a farewell function held in their honour, at the club’s Lance Gibbs Street-based pavilion.

The five – Raymond Perez, Ashmead Nedd, Timothy McAlmont, Sagar Hetheramani and Mark Williams – were selected on the Julian Moore-coached Guyana Under-15 team which left Guyana yesterday to do battle in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-15 tournament in Jamaica from tomorrow.
In his charge, Mentore, who is a former National Under-19 batsman, reminded the quintet of how they got there, citing the work by the club’s coach Gavin Nedd as the impetus of their upward mobility to date, informing that they have “big shoes” to fill.
“It is no easy feat to gain five players from one club in a national team and for us here at DCC, it is certainly a wonderful feeling, especially knowing that the five players’ selection came about from their representation of the club in the Georgetown Cricket Association Under-15 tournament, which the club dominated for another year.
Kudos must be given to coach Nedd, since it is the hard work that he put in which is bearing fruit today, as two years ago he started a Summer Academy, which most of you were a part of and which will be continued this year as well,” said Mentore.
He reminded the selectees, of some players of yesteryear such as Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd, Roger and Mark Harper, Travis Dowlin, Linden Joseph and Keith Semple, and of the present in the calibre of Christopher Barnwell, Trevon Griffith and Derwin Christian, who all represented DCC proudly.
“You have “big shoes” to fill when you get out there. A lot is expected of you, since you will be following in the footsteps of some great players, but I want to charge you to charter your own course and make your own mark.”
He added, “Don’t just think about yourself, for while it is good for you to aim for a Windies call-up at some point and time in your career, remember the job at hand is what you need to maximise on. We expect you not to think too much ahead, but to stay focused on the job at hand, as your preparations for that will place you in good stead.”
Reflecting on the national team’s preparatory encampment period in Essequibo, Mentore said, “An amateur practises until he gets it right but a professional practises so he won’t get it wrong,” using the old adage “practice makes perfect” while reminding the players to keep practising their art.
“It is important that you practise the right things, for which the results will follow. At the same time, I implore you to do your best when you are in Jamaica, be good ambassadors for DCC and make yourself, family, friends and the club proud of you,” stated Mentore.
In his brief remarks, Gavin Nedd, who recently returned from Tobago with the National Under-17 team, challenged the five players to go out there and fight hard for Guyana, with the aim of bringing back the bacon, especially after the Under-17 team failed to do so.
The elder Nedd informed the small gathering of his idea two years ago to begin the Academy, which produced his son Ashmead, McAlmont and Hetheramani, adding that while Perez and Williams are not products of the Academy, they have talent that needs to be harnessed in the right way.
An emotional Nedd informed of his prayers to God while his wife was expecting his son, wherein he asked God not to let his talent go to waste, hence Ashmead was born, and now he is being selected to represent Guyana, for which he (Gavin) is a proud father today.
In moving the vote of thanks, the younger Nedd applauded Mentore for the efforts he put in at the club, especially with the gesture last Tuesday night, showering praise on his dad for the hard work he put in.  He promised on behalf of himself and his colleagues to work hard and bring home the bacon.
According to Mentore, Dowlin, Roger Harper, Bishwa Panday, Hits and Jams Entertainment and himself contributed to the gifts the players were receiving that night, with Perez, Ashmead Nedd and Hetheramani receiving a pair of cricket boots each, compliments of Panday, H&J and Dowlin; Williams a pair of gloves from Roger Harper and McAlmont a bat from Mentore, through Lifetime Real Estate.
The Guyana Under-15 team reads: Bhaskar Yadram (captain), Adrian Sukhwah (wicketkeeper), Raymond Perez, Darshan Persaud, Richie Lucknauth, Ronaldo Mohamed (vice-captain), Timothy McAlmont, Mark Williams, Sagar Hetheramani, Ashmead Nedd, Matthew Hardial, Vickram Talmakund, Christopher Latchman and Sylus Tyndall.