… Foster unveils plans for youths at senior level

THE National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) last week renewed its cricket sponsorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (EHTYSC) during a simple presentation ceremony at the company’s Agricola head office.

The support would cover sponsorship of the club’s Under-21 and First Division teams for the next twelve months. RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the company first sponsored the two teams in 2019 and over the last three years, both teams have excelled on and off the cricket field.

The teams have won several major cricket tournaments including the Busta Champion of Champions, Stag Beer 50 overs, Elizabeth Styles Under-21 and Ivan Madray 20/20 tournaments.
Foster also informed NAMILCO management that the teams have produced several outstanding players including Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Kevin Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Jermey Sandia, Mahendra Gopilall, Sohail Mohamed and Ramzan Koobir who all played for Guyana or the West Indies over the last twelve months.

Junior and Kevin Sinclair played in the 2022 CPL tournament while Kevin and Pestano played for Guyana at the first-class level. Anderson, a former West Indies Under-19 player was unlucky not to gain selection to the national senior team but gained selection to the West Indies Emerging Players Academy.

Foster disclosed that in 2022, the RHTYSC produced four players on the national Under-19 female team, six on the national senior female, two on the national senior male, two in the CPL, two for the national Under-15 male and three for the national Under-19 male team. A hand injury prevented Matthew Pottaya, the opportunity to play for the national Under-17 team.

Off the cricket field, the two teams together hosted over 50 personal developmental projects including the construction of two homes for friends of the club, annual cricket camp, annual summer camp, COVID-19 hampers, scorebook program,me medical outreach, Basil Butcher Trust Fund, distribution of school bags and educational school grants.

The teams over the last twelve months assisted dozens of youths with bicycles, cricket gear and electronic tablets as part of their ;Say Yes to Sports and Education; drive. Members of the teams would also be involved in promotional work for their sponsor during the upcoming Berbice Expo at the Albion Ground from the 14th of October.

Foster also disclosed that with some of the club’s most senior veterans passing the age of 35 years, a decision was made to invest in the younger players like Sandia, Pottaya, Rampersaud, Gopilall, Romesh Bharrat and Ramzan Koobir.

This would be done despite the fact that it might affect performances on the field. The long-serving club official stated that the immediate goal is not to win tournaments but to mould a powerful team for the future.
He stated that the RHTYSC has won over 100 tournaments over the last 30 years but acquiring silverware is not the main objective but rather producing a team for the future. Players like the Sinclairs, Anderson, Sylus Tyndall, Keith Simpson, Eon Hooper and Clinton Pestano shall provide the leadership to the younger generation as part of the rebuilding process.

NAMILCO Managing Director Bert Sukhai and Financial Controller Fitzroy McLeod both hailed the outstanding work of the RHTYSC and the way the two teams have represented the company brand.
McLeod hailed Foster for his visionary leadership of the club and stated that NAMILCO was very pleased to be associated with a club that fulfils all of its commitments under the sponsorship. He also stated that he was very impressed with the team’s winning ways and the number of outstanding players it has produced.

As part of the sponsorship, the company also handed over 30 pairs of coloured uniforms to the club along with a cheque to cover the cost of transportation, meals/snacks, balls, gear and practice sessions. Kevlon Anderson would captain the first division team while Jonathan Rampersaud would lead the Under-21 team.