-Orealla benefits from historic coaching sessions

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is forging ahead with its developmental programme and club president, Hilbert Foster, has launched visits to member clubs of the very active cricket board.
Foster, who is known for his constant visits to all parts of the county, visited the Whim Cricket Club to meet with members to bring them up to date on plans of his administration and to listen to any concerns they make have.

The BCB president informed the Whim membership of the progress made over the last six years under his leadership and unveil plans for the future.

Foster explained that the BCB is currently donating batting cages and bowling machines to zones across the county in an effort to make practice sessions more professional for the youths. He also announced that the county was benefitting from an aggressive coaching programme directed at youths with the assistance of Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall.
Clubs will also benefit from donations of cricket balls to assist them to fulfill their mandates while the BCB is the only cricket board in Guyana to host cricket tournaments at both the primary and secondary school levels. Foster stated that his board is using the first half of the year to play junior and female cricket. He disclosed that during the summer holidays, the BCB would be hosting an historic Under -11 tournament, along with an Under -13, as the effort to unearth new talents continues. The board will use the second half of the year to host second and first division tournaments for senior players.

Foster, who was first elected in 2018, used his influence to resolve some problems affecting the club and its membership. He urged the executives to be more committed and to focus on the development of new talents. He reassured members that he was always available to meet with them concerning cricket matters.

The BCB president handed over cricket items worth over one hundred and twenty thousand dollars to the club. The items included a practice net, catching crib, scorebook, helmet, a box of cricket balls, wicket-keeping gloves and inners, protective gear and coaching manual.

Foster is committed to assisting the Whim Club with another box of balls and trophies for a fund raising tournament. The tournament, which has been approved by the board, will be used to raise funds to purchase pitch covers. Foster assisted in getting three other clubs to participate.

Whim will, on Sunday, play in a BCB grassroot tournament at the Port Mourant ground sponsored by Arjune Nandu, along with the home team and the Tain Campus of the University of Guyana. Members of the club, at the conclusion of the successful meeting expressed thanks to the BCB President and reassured him that they would work hard to develop their club .
Meanwhile, the Amerindian community of Orealla benefitted from two days of cricket coaching as the BCB works to promote cricket across the ancient county. Twenty youths in the area were last weekend involved in sessions conducted by BCB Coach Junior Blair.

Emphasis was placed on improving the youths’ abilities in batting, bowling, wicket-keeping and also on the rules of the game. The event was organised with the co-operation of the Orealla Village Council, the management of the Orealla Secondary School and Sir Ikie Henry.

Hilbert Foster said he has committed the board to assist with some cricket gear for the area and also to seek ways to get Orealla to play in junior cricket. Coach Blair has expressed delight at the interest of the youths and their passion for the game.