THE Berbice Cricket Board on Thursday last obtained sponsorship for two major events in its list of activities for 2026. The Guyana Breweries Inc. under its non-alcoholic brand, Smalta, handed over sponsorship for the BCB Under-19 Tournament which is ongoing. The sponsorship also extends to support a life development programme for training young cricketers in the ancient county of Berbice.
BCB President Dr. Cecil Beharry was accompanied by Chairman of the Junior Selection Committee, Balram Samaroo for the presentation ceremony at the Guyana Breweries Inc.’s Berbice branch. The BCB President hailed the two sponsorships as a major boost in the overall development of Berbice Cricket.
The Smalta Under-19 Tournament started earlier this year with over twenty teams participating in four sub-zones – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. The top two teams from each sub-zone advanced to the quarter-finals. Albion, Rose Hall Town Pepsi ‘A’, Tucber Park and Rose Hall Canje are the four teams in the semi-finals.
The tournament has seen outstanding performances from players like Adrian Hetmyer, Romario Ramdehol, Richard Ramdehol, Ramzan Koobir, Micah Amsterdam, Vishal Williams, Shoaib Gaffoor, Antonio Depaul, Neathaniel Ramsammy, Thierry Henry, Feaz Baksh, Gilbert Griffith, Asif Marimuthu, Arif Khan, Afzal McKenzie. Samaroo, the head of the BCB Junior Selection Committee disclosed that the county’s under-19 team was selected mainly on the outstanding performance in the Smalta Tournament. He hailed the support of the company and for their interest in cricket development. Smalta’s sponsorship, Samaroo noted has assisted the county to have at least six players on the national team for the upcoming CWI Regional Tournament.
The company also handed over a sponsorship cheque for the hosting of a life development seminar for eighty youth cricketers. The seminar would be organized by the Cricket Development Committee of the BCB as part of its developmental programme for 2026. The seminar would cover a wide range of topics including the importance of education, personal hygiene, importance of discipline, public speaking, financial planning, basic public manners and drug abuse.
BCB President Dr. Beharry stated that the seminar would be held at a central venue in the county and attendance would be compulsory for all players. The BCB, he stated was committed to the development of every youth cricketer in the county, on and off the cricket field. He noted that the board with the assistance of the government of Guyana has several coaches across the county to make sure that every potential cricketer is properly prepared to play at the highest level. Participation in the life Development seminar would cater for the development of all-rounded individuals who can represent Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies at any level.
The BCB President also disclosed that his administration has obtained sponsorship to reprint more copies of its historic coaching manuals. The BCB in 2021 created history in the West Indies when it published its own coaching manual. Dr. Beharry stated that hundreds of youth players in the county would shortly be receiving their own manual to allow them to practice at home on their batting, bowling and fielding.
Regional Manager Albert Budhoo in brief remarks stated that the Guyana Breweries Inc. was delighted to be associated with Berbice cricket. He expressed delight at the organising skills of the BCB for the ongoing Smalta Under-19 Tournament and the Smalta brand. He spoke broadly of the importance of the Life Development Seminar and indicated that his company was prepared to sponsor similar programmes in the future. Budhoo urged all youth cricketers in the county to take advantage of the hard work of the BCB.
