MORUCA became the latest addition to the long list of growing communities across the country, as the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) new frontier Cricket Academy continues to reach newer heights.

The GCB team continued to venture into uncharted parts of Guyana, this time making the prestigious Amerindian settlement. This academy follows those in couth Essequibo, north Essequibo, Leguan, Wakenaam, and Pomeroon, which bowled off their camps within the past two months.

The team also took a different dynamic, adding Guyana Harpy Eagles National Head Coach Ryan Hercules to the core, alongside Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) President Deleep Singh and his executive crew and coaches from the Cinderella County.

Moruca Cricket Board President Earl Richards, ECB Competitions Chairman Kumar Das, Chairman of Selectors in Essequibo Dinesh Joseph and others also featured in part of the groundbreaking venture, held at the Damion Marvin Recreational Ground.

During his feature remarks, Mr. Singh, a Director at Cricket West Indies (CWI) told the residents that this specific visit was geared towards finding and developing some of Region One (Barima-Waini)’s immense talent, something he said will be a focal point, as Moruca, undoubtedly, remains one of the premier zones in Essequibo.

He said the uprising of Essequibo cricket is a huge part of the overall structure of building for the future, because a number of top talents, the likes of Ronsford Beaton, Keemo Paul, Anthony Adams and other Guyana and West Indies players hail from Essequibo. As a result, it is crucial to keep producing athletes from what can be described as a premier reservoir for cricket.
Richards, the Moruca Cricket Board President immediately thanked the GCB and President Bissondyal Singh and his team for putting Moruca in a position to progress as a community, and as a way of keeping their youths further engaged in sports, but noted that cricket plays a huge role in the daily lives of the younger generation of Morucans.

Hercules’ inclusion was part of a new initiative to give Academy members who are primarily between the ages of seven to 17 early exposure to elite coaching. Young cricketers, although shy, manage to open up and eventually exhibit immense talent on the pitch.

During his interaction with the students, Hercules, a Level 3 Coach and former player, acknowledged the natural athletic build and raw physical talent which is a hallmark of the youths from the region.

The coach proclaimed that Region One has, arguably, one of the highest concentrations of talent as it relates to cricket, and he’s pleased to witness such a massive turnout by the players who hail from the various satellite villages like Kabukalli and St. Peters Hall.

Hercules, who was born in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), said that it’s important to have proper coaching for students who are filled with potential but lack the necessary guidance in order to unlock their true potential.

Calling on the local coaches to continue their hard work, especially after most of the coaches in Essequibo recently completed their Level 1/2 course, which was held at the Guyana National Stadium a few weeks ago.

The Eagles coach called on the instructors and players to focus on working hand-in-hand, and practising discipline when it comes to training, being timely for weekly sessions, and when on the cricket field.

Moruca’s Tushao, Stavros Stanley called the moment “a ground-breaking day for Santa Rosa”, and asked for a real cricket pitch for the sport; a facility which will go a long way.

“I know we have potential in Moruca, because sports is the way to go, and we have developed more than before,” he said, adding:
“Essequibo leads the way in academies being launched; it has been a historic and important exercise for the ECB and GCB. I know a lot of talent is here in the community, with a lot of talented players.”

A few of the coaches from the area, both male and female, will be tasked with overseeing the weekly progression of the academy, and, speaking on behalf of their plans, Ernesto DeMattos, Head Coach of the Region, told his teammates that the task ahead will be grueling, but it’s up to them to ensure that the academy and the players reach their peak.

Meanwhile, some students and residents of the area thanked both Boards for making such a historic move, while bringing cricket gear to their community. The turnout by young women in the area was by far the largest of the academies launched, with more than 15 girls present during last Saturday’s launch. Closing off the opening, Navika Narine, the ECB Public Relations Officer, thanked the young women and the community for being involved, more specifically the young ladies who showed a huge interest in becoming the next batch of women cricketers.

Speaking on the progression of the Academies across Essequibo, and those to be launched in other zones like Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), GCB President Bissondyal Singh said he was thrilled to see that cricket had been developing rapidly outside of the common areas.

The GCB President believes that the GCB could continue to churn out top talents from across these hidden zones, as they are more sports-oriented and natural athletes with a high drive for cricket. Singh, who, too, is a CWI Director, said the academies in Essequibo will play an integral part in the future of Guyana’s cricket.