By Sean Devers
FOUNDED in 1902 by a Barbadian Tailor, the Malteenoes Sports Club, in 1993, inaugurated the first ever Cricket Academy in the West Indies with the Malteenoes Cricket Academy which spanned the duration of July/August school vacation, with accommodation provided for the out-of-town players.

Today, at 09:30 hours, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, will officially open this year’s Academy at the club’s Thomas Lands facility.

The Academy will be in operation, from Monday to Friday, during the period July 17 to July 29 from 09:00 hours to 15:00 hours.

President of the Club, Deborah McNichol explained that the Academy was important for developing young boys and girls, both on and off the field.

Cricket skills, etiquette, the Laws of cricket, dealing with the media, mental and game awareness, among other topical areas, will be taught during the two-week Academy and matches will be held.

“Funding the programme is the most challenging aspect and we (MSC) are still seeking sponsorship to fund different areas of the Academy like refreshments, water and cricket balls” said the first ever female President of a Club that participates in First Division cricket.

Some of the sponsors of this year’s Academy are: The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Fireside Grill n Chill, Office of the President, Bistro Café and Bar, Star Party Rental, Jumbo Jet Autosale, Desinco Trading, Exotic Printz 592, Guytrac, Trophy Stall, Val’s Construction, Vnet and South Atlantic.

In 1992, Michael Welch, who was at that time the General Manager of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, negotiated and secured a grant from Northern Telecom and this enabled the Club to construct the accommodation on the ground floor of the building for housing the proposed Academy.

With the blessings and support of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the Malteenoes Cricket Academy was launched in July 1993 in recognition of the Club’s motto “Our Youth, Our Future”.
It was inspired by the fact that cricket in Guyana and the West Indies seemed to be a game where the basic skills, knowledge of the game, confidence and pride were being taken for granted in all quarters, with no apparent prescriptions nor blueprints for remedial action.

MSC’s principal intention was to add to the National grid, at least 150 young proud confident individuals, on an annual basis.

The plan was for the GCB to take it over after the first three years but this did not happen resulting in the Academy being run by MSC up to 2003.

After a break the Academy was reintroduced in 2016 on a much smaller scale but was again interrupted in 2017 due to the unavalibity of Coaches who were occupied with CPL duties
In 2018 a scaled down Academy was held but the Pandemic halted the Academy for another two years before it restarted last year when Lomar Seecharran was named the best batter in the 12-17 age group while Rakeeb Latif was the best bowler in the 7-12 age group.

Both of the players were involved in the just concluded DCB U-13 Franchise cricket tournament.

The Academy has produced Test players Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ryan Ramdass, Colin Stuart, Narsingh Deonarine and female Test player Indomattie Gordial-John along with former USA Captain Steve Massiah who played two ODIs for the US while Karran Ganesh, who attended the first Academy, also represented the USA.