… GCB credits sturdy youth programmes.

GUYANA’S victorious U-19 cricketers returned home yesterday after sweeping the Cricket West Indies (CWI) double for a second consecutive time, with cohesiveness and teamwork being the pillars of their success.

According to captain Renaldo Mohamed, the side’s dominance in the regional three-day and 50-over competitions was due to how well they worked as a unit.
“It feels great to be champions again. It was a real effort from the guys throughout the tournament – the support from the coaches, the players, all the fans and everything.”
Greeting the team yesterday, the incumbent Minister with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport Dr George Norton contended that to meet on such winning terms is always a pleasure.

“I’m willing to work with you. Myself and the Director of Sport Christopher Jones, could not have been introduced in a better ambience than this, where you are victorious.” he said.
Also on hand to receive the team was Cricket West Indies director and secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanaise, who commended the unit for their win.
The CWI director said, “Winning this particular tournament has been something that we have been looking forward to because this basically is the last of the youth stage where the players are now moving to the senior level.”

“It means that our programmes that we have, despite some criticism of them have been working. But like everything else, you have to fine-tune them,” hadded.
The Chairman of the senior selection panel of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rayon Griffith, GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart and Assistant Administrator Avee Fedee-Grimmond were also in attendance.

The team picked up the Regional three-day championship earlier this month by defeating Jamaica in the final round of competition.
On Monday, the side recorded their sixth consecutive win during the one-day tournament after defeating the Windward Islands by six runs.