… calls on ECB to support Singh’s candidacy

By Rajiv Bisnauth

FORMER cricket administrators, Elroy Stephney and Sheik Ahmad, have endorsed the president of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Bissoondyal Singh as “absolutely the right man” to lead the local governing for cricket.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, has set February 26 as the date for the long-awaited election of the new executive of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

Both Stephney and Ahmad say Singh will bring a renewed optimism to the administration of local cricket. The Essequibians said while there are massive challenges facing the administration of the game locally, Singh, who is a successful businessman, possesses the necessary leadership skills to confront those issues.
“Singh has the capacity and experience to lead GCB during this time, so I call on the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) to support his candidacy,” Stephney, the former Essequibo senior inter-county captain said.

“I believe that ECB will benefit from the leadership of Mr Singh, whose vast management skills as a cricket administrator and entrepreneur will ensure that the ECB receives much needed sponsorship which has been non-existent for the past years,” the CWI Level 11 coach pointed out during an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday.

Stephney who is also a former national youth manager further added, “There has to be serious impetus in addressing our youth and female cricket in Essequibo, and I am confident that Mr Singh will provide the technical and financial resources to uplift our standards.”
Meanwhile, Stephney, said once elected, Singh should immediately look at providing more trained coaches who will serve in the eight area committees of Essequibo’s cricket.

He also noted that the refurbishing of the ECB hostel, regular coaching seminars for cricketers, strengthening club structures, a strategic plan that will incorporate coaching, competitions, stronger capacity-building and mentorship, along with financial viability to sustain the functioning of the office, support cricketers, provide the necessary equipment and resources for the hostel and a river taxi should also be Singh’s top priorities for the county

Further Stephney feels ECB therefore has an opportunity to foster a strong and successful partnership under the stewardship of Singh and in the best interest of cricket development generally. On the other hand, Singh, once elected to the top post will find himself presiding over an entity that is badly battered by administrative incompetence for over a decade. It would definitely be a huge challenge but Ahmad, the former president of the ECB, believed Singh’s expertise would prove vital.

“Singh is the reason why I’m more optimistic about cricket now than I’ve been for the past 10 years. I think we have absolutely the right man. Mistakes are going to be made given where we’ve come from but I think we’re very fortunate to have him at this time.” Ahmad, who had served as treasurer on the GCB and as alternate director on the West Indies Cricket Board, now Cricket West Indies (CWI), added: “The reality is if you’ve got the right leader anything is possible.
The minister’s move stems from consultations with CWI, pursuant to the requirements of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act and on the heels of the DCB elections held last Friday. Elections at the GCB level have not been held since 2012.