..-Sheik Mohamed donates $400,000 worth of items

SOME 50 youth cricketers from the ancient county of Berbice, on Sunday last, left the Albion Community Centre ground as much more skilful players following the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) successful completion of two more cricket clinics.

The sessions were a continuation of the countywide Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme and were conducted by former West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts and former National wicket-keeper, Sheik Mohamed.

BCB president, Hilbert Foster, who was present for the entire three-hour session hailed them as a huge success and disclosed that several players had informed him that they were delighted with his administration’s investment in their future.

Butts worked with the off-spinners with special emphasis being placed on spinning the ball, approach to the crease, follow through, variation and flight. He spoke widely on the importance of patience as a spinner and also on how to work on the weaknesses of batsmen.

Butts also noted that spinners cannot blast out batsmen like fast bowlers and as such, they need to out-think them.
The veteran cricket coach spent a long time observing the action of each player and then correcting when necessary. He later stated that Berbice cricket is in safe hands and is moving in the right direction. In a jovial comment, he stated that he wished half of them were living in his home county of Demerara.

Mohamed, meanwhile, with local coaches Winston Smith, Balram Samaroo and Leslie Soloman worked with the keepers in another three-hour session. Special emphasis was placed on footwork, gloves work, concentration, equipment and movement.

Keepers were advised that the gloves should be the last thing to leave the ground so that they can collect the ball on the inside hip. Mohamed, who played nineteen first class matches for Guyana , observed that the main problem for some of the keepers was that they were falling forward.

In a surprise gesture, Mohamed, who is the owner of Star Sports, in Enmore, donated over $400,000.00 worth of coloured clothing and wicket-keeping gloves. Six keepers, who were without gloves, benefitted from the donations while every youth at both clinics received a complete colored uniform.

He stated that he was very impressed with the work being done in Berbice and as such was delighted to contribute. The BCB handed a gift to both Butts and Mohamed while two players, Ashmini Muneshwar and T. Caesar expressed thanks to them . Mohamed joined Butts in informing the BCB that they are always available to return in the future.

The BCB will be hosting two former cricketing greats for two countywide clinics while West Indies left arm-spinner Veersammy Permaul has agreed to conduct a clinic for left-arm spinners when he returns from international duties.

The board, in February, had hosted Sir Curtly Ambrose and England-based Nolan Mckenzie for two clinics at the Albion Ground.