THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) earlier this week donated over $800 000 worth of gear to the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA).

The items were handed over at the latter’s Annual General Meeting, by GCB president Bissondyal Singh.
The donation, he said, is being done to help the association with gear and equipment needed for training sessions and to play matches.

He urged the recipients to make full use of the items donated and looked forward to seeing talented players coming from the Region, assuring them that it will not be the last.
The items donated include bats, pads, gloves, stumps, balls. The GCB will be moving to implement several activities including training and playing matches across the country.

President of UDCA, Mr Bradley Fredericks, said that the UDCA is extremely grateful for such an enormous contribution.
The UDCA president said that with the donation of the gear it will be easier for them to help administer the game across the Region.
He promised that he and his executives will make full use of the items donated.

The UDCA president stressed that his board would continue to create the environment for players to grow and he took up GCB challenge to have teams prepared in time for all upcoming competitions.

PRAISE RAINED ON UDCA
Singh congratulated the president of the UDCA and the executive on behalf of the GCB and DCB and wished them all the best in their term in office.
“The UDCA stood the test of time when they were treated badly, were ostracised, and must be applauded. Many efforts were made to destroy and disband the body, but the UDCA prevailed.

“He also mentioned the contribution made by the legendary Sir Clive Lloyd along with the gathering of some 7 000 signatures to help get the Cricket Administration Act passed. That entire process took years to conclude including a number of court battles.”

“You were stifled for over 11 years by the previous administrators and must be given some attention and the GCB is willing to assist.”
The president alluded to the hard work and enthusiasm of the members of the UDCA, pointing specifically to the concluded U15 Inter-Association Cricket competition in Demerara.

For the first time an Under-15 team was selected from the Region to participate in a cricket competition.
What was exemplary about that was the team was selected in two weeks.

The GCB president commended the UDCA for having a number of females on board as a part of the executives.

GCB ROLLING OUT PLANS
In his address, the GCB boss also said the Board is moving full speed ahead to implement a number of programmes they have in the pipeline, adding that some will be done simultaneously to make up for lost time.

A massive school’s programme to be undertaken shortly with the training of 150 teachers from 75 primary schools, countrywide was one of the examples Singh alluded to – a programme of which Region 10 will be an integral part.

He challenged the association to have teams ready for all other competitions including Under-17, Under-19, and Females among others.