RETURNING president of Zeeburg Sports Club, Dhanpaul (only name), will focus on greater youth development during his next two years in office.
The 55-year-old was again elected unopposed to the helm of the West Demerara club when elections were held last week.
According to the West Demerara Franchise coach, the aim is to build the youth pool. He said that he is not only producing cricketers, but is keeping youths from the area positively occupied.
“When we get the youths involved in cricket, we keep them off the street, we give them purpose and teach them discipline – I don’t want the youths to stray.”
Dhanpaul has been involved in Zeeburg cricket for the last three decades and has helped many promising youngsters to hone their skills.
“As long as you spend time with them, they will improve. It takes a lot of support, both physically and financially.”
Dhanpaul has focussed heavily on youth cricket and was the coach of the West Demerara U-19 team when they won the inter-association competition for three straight years under the captaincy of former Guyana U-19 skipper Travis Persaud.

He still coaches for the association at the U-19 level and continues to be an inspiration with the up-and-coming players.
In 2005, Dhanpaul, his son Yutesh Dhanpaul and Omar Narine re-started Zeeburg Sports Club after it was left abandoned for years. Since elections in 2006, Dhanpaul has been elected continuously to the helm unopposed.
According to Yutesh, his father is an inspiration because of his commitment and dedication to cricket.

“During his years our club became the #1 club on West Demerara, producing a lot of national youth players. Under his leadership our club was able to build two pavilions. We are currently in the process of building a washroom for females and putting together a female cricket team,” Yutesh stated.
The older Dhanpaul is not just a Level One West Indies coach, he is also a former player.He played against the likes of former West Indies captain Carl Hooper at the county level, while he was also a standby on the national U-19 team.

Yutesh noted that his father continues to be a role-model in the community and he is doing it through hard work.
“I can tell you that he eats, breathes and sleeps cricket.”
It is this dedication that has resulted in his unanimous re-election yet again at the club.
Over the next two years, Suraj Hiraman will function as Zeeburg’s vice-president, with Harri Narain as secretary and Robin Manniram as treasurer.
The Assistant secretary/treasurer/Club manager is Omar Narine.