SEVENTEEN-year-old fast bowler, Okazie Boyce, of Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, recently received one pair of metal spikes cricket shoes from “Project Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana,” the joint initiative of Kishan Das of the USA and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive member, Anil Beharry of Guyana.
The promising pacer, who is also a national athlete (high jumper), represents Skeldon Community Centre Cricket Club at the junior, second division and senior levels. Boyce is a student of Skeldon Line Path Secondary and played for Berbice in the recently concluded GCB Inter- county Under-19 tournament. He expressed gratitude to the initiative on receiving the shoes. The initiative is also happy to be associated with the development of cricket, especially among young people.
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $460,000 in cash, 13 coloured cricket uniforms, two trophies, 28 pairs of cricket shoes, 33 pairs of batting pads, 35 cricket bats, 39 pairs of batting gloves, 25 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, 12 cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets, one fiber glass bat, 13 boxes of white cricket balls and 28 footballs.
In addition to the above, gear worth more than $600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket-keeper/batsman.
All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, 73 young players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefitted directly from seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 32 bats, three boxes, six helmets, 27 pairs of cricket shoes, 19 pairs of batting pads, 24 thigh pads, one bat grip, 32 pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicket-keeping pads and three pairs of wicket-keeping gloves.
Several others also benefitted indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also collected one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club 13 coloured uniforms
while RHCCCC received four and a half boxes of balls, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves, a set of stumps and bails.
Other beneficiaries include the Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls), male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area, Number 65 Young Titans with 30 tee-Shirts, youths of Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls), Shamar
Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club and Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each).
Cricket related items, used or new, are 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 talent.
Progressive and well managed cricket clubs with a youth programme will also benefit.
Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
