Butts’ death marred a successful year for GCA

THE death of Test Cricketer, Coach, Selector and Administrator Clyde Butts who died in a vehicular accident on December 8, 2023, marred a successful year for the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) which won every DCB Inter-Association tournament for the year.

Chairman of the GCA Competition’s Committee Shawn Massiah said the late Butts, who met his demise at 66, would be missed not only by the GCA where he played for Everest and GNIC but by the cricket entire cricket fraternity in Guyana and the West Indies.

Massiah said Butts, who represented GNIC at age 61, had so much more to give to the youngsters.
“Our biggest challenge this year was the availability of grounds for two days and this has hampered the playing of our 1st division two-day cricket on weekends. We do hope the New Year 2024 clubs can make their grounds available for a two-day period.

We are satisfied with the coverage the GCA got during the year and look forward to our continued partnership in covering our cricket which goes a long way in informing and highlighting the public about our players’ performances” posited Massiah who informed that the GCA’s Elections will be in January 2025.

New Building Society (2nd Division 40 overs competition), GISE Star Party Rental & Trophy Stall (1st division 2 days), Atlantic Marine Supplies INC Suzuki Motor Cycles (2nd Division T /20), Speaker’s Cup (1st Division T/20), Sherwin Williams Paint (2nd Division T/20), PEPSI DDL (1st Division 50 overs), Toucan Distributor (U-15) and Ramchand Auto Spares Survival Group of Companies & Trophy Stall (U-19) helped to keep the wheels of the GCA turning.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, and Shamar Joseph, who is a Berbician but plays with Everest, were selected for the Test series in Australia next month.

Other GCA players who represented Guyana at the junior level:
U-13: Brandon Henry, Reyaz Latif, Lomar Seecharran, Thierry Davis, Makai Dowlin and Joshua Bollers.
U-15: Dave Mohabir, Emmanuel Lewis, Shane Prince, Trilok Nanan, Dhanesh Persaud Jonathan Mentore while the lone U-17 player from the city was Jonathan Vanlange.

At the U-19: Mavendra Dindyal, Shamar Yearwood, Alvin Mohabir, Zachary Jodha, Rivaldo Phillips and Shahid Viera while
Joash Charles, Thaddius Lovell and Aryan Persaud who, despite playing at the inter-county level for Essequibo but was one of seven GCC players who made the Guyana U-19 Squad.

“We have approximately 35 Ladies who are attached to Transport and Malteenoes club who can make two teams which will be in a GCA competition in the new year.
We are seeing the players perform and being selected to represent their County, Guyana and West Indies with distinction and showing the hard work being put in by GCA President Azad Ibrahim and all the Executives of the GCA.

“Our Clubs are strapped for much need finance to maintain and sustain their clubs, of which I hope that the Ministry of Culture Youth and sports through governmental budgetary can assist these clubs with waiver on their Light bills, water bills, and ground staff wages/Salaries along with other ground Equipment to maintain the cutting of grounds.

My suggestion would be to hire at least three ground staff per club (Which is job creation) and have their salaries paid by the Sports Ministry or spread it out under the different ministries. This should be throughout the country for first division grounds staff and not only the GCA” suggested Massiah who still plays for Transport.

The GCA held Captaincy and Coaching Seminars for all Captains from junior to senior as well as Coaches and potential Managers and thanked Everest, Malteenoes, DCC and GCC for holding successful all-age cricket Camps during the August school holidays.

The GSA held seven competitions for the year with four being completed. Two of the remaining three could not be played because the military (GDF & Police) were in ‘line’ due to the border issue.

The competition will continue in January 2024
This year, cricket in Georgetown was very good in comparison to last year since we got more sponsors and more available grounds even though we want more grounds consistently for two days.

We were able to train scorers for our ‘Cricclubs’ app where the world can see what GCA players are doing based on performances while we have built and strengthened friendships and partners with new and old sponsors who are impressed with what we do and how we do it” added Massiah.

Season’s greetings to all cricket fans, president, executives, and players from the GCA. The umpires, cricket journalists, sponsors.
The GCA thanked the presidents and executives of each of our affiliated clubs, associate clubs, area associations and county boards for cooperating with them throughout the year.

To our sponsors, players, umpires, curators, parents, friends of cricket, especially Norman Juice/Bom man, selectors and all cricket fans, thank you all for your input and your constructive criticism.
On behalf of the GCA, we wish you a productive and prosperous New Year.