WAKENAAM teenager, Cyanna Retemiah, who was recently selected to the West Indies Under-19 training squad to tour India but wasn’t selected in the touring party, is determined to continue to work hard on her game. She is the latest recipient of one pair of cricket shoe, compliments of Project Cricket Gear, a joint initiative between Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry, former Berbice all-rounder and current executive of the Guyana Cricket Board.

At a simple ceremony held recently, Retemiah expressed thanks to the initiative and promised to continue to work hard on her game and to do herself and others proud. The rounded athlete is a four- time national cycling champion who captained her County in youth cricket and represented Guyana. She also passed five subjects at CXC. The project sponsors are happy to be part of the development of young Retemiah and every other young and talented cricketers in Guyana.

The sum of $20 000 was also donated to this initiative by a friend of cricket who requested his name not be mentioned.

Total cricket-related items collected so far are: $29 ,000 in cash, two trophies, 12 cricket boots, 20 pairs of batting pads, 25 bats, 17 pairs of batting gloves, 20 thigh pads, one pair of wicket-keeping pad, three arm guards, two boxes, six cricket bags and three helmets. In addition to the above, $600, 000 worth in gear was donated by former National wicket-keeper/batsman, Sheik Mohamed.

To date, 44 young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefitted from three junior gear bags, two trophies, three arm guards, 17 bats, two boxes, three helmets, 13 pairs of cricket shoes, 10 pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, one bat rubber and 12 pairs of batting gloves. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats.

The Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC got two boxes, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board and the Town of Lethem also benefitted.

Cricket-related items, used or new, is distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent-spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify same. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.