THE Reliance Sports Club ground, Essequibo, is expected to come alive on Boxing Day with the staging of the annual memorial softball match, staged in honour of the late Shivanandan Mandolall, the former Guyana youth player.

The 15-over affair featuring hosts, Reliance Sports Club versus Cotton Field Wildcoats is anticipated to be a riveting affair which should provide lots of entertainment for the expected bumper holiday crowd.
Touted as one of the better players to emerge from the Cinderella county, Mandolall represented Guyana at both the under-15 and under-19 levels. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 30, after losing a battle with malaria.

According to his eldest brother Rovendra Mandolall, another ex-Guyana youth player, the stage is set for the showdown, with Reliance Sports Club being the defending champions.
Mandolall, who is currently residing in Canada, stated that even though the family is still saddened by his brother’s passing, they are thrilled to run off another game in memory of him.

Preceding the Reliance/Wildcoats encounter, will be a five-over exhibition game which will see a Mandolall’s X1 coming up against a Reliance over-40 (senior) side while a female exhibition five-over match is also carded for the day.

Mandolall pointed out that the three games should all be exciting affairs while there will also be musical entertainment and off-field attractions. He also alluded to the fact that the first game will also be in memory of his dad who died earlier this year and he also took the opportunity to thank the various sponsors who donated trophies, medals and jerseys.

Apart from Rovendra, several former Essequibo senior inter-county cricketers are expected to participate as well, including Elroy Stephney, Ramesh Narine, Ray Gonsalves, Mahendra Bennett, Mohindra Boodram, Devon Ramnauth, Lakmikant Narine and Raul Khan, among others.

(Frederick Halley)