– Mangru urges participants to seize opportunity to learn
THE 24th edition of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club’s Cricket Academy got underway on Monday at the Albion Community Centre, with over 70 young cricketers participating in the six-day programme.
The academy, which caters to youngsters between the ages of eight and 18, is being sponsored by Connecticut, USA-based businessman Nizul Hussain of Northeast Connecticut Renovation and Retailers Property Management.
Morning sessions feature lectures and interactive discussions on a wide range of topics, including the importance of education, discipline, public speaking, avoiding substance abuse, health and safety, motivation and the laws of cricket. The afternoon sessions are dedicated to practical coaching aimed at developing participants’ technical and tactical skills.
Heading the coaching staff is former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon. Former West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, former Guyana wicketkeeper-batsman Anthony Bramble and former Berbice under-19 all-rounder Zameer Khan joined him. Several prominent national coaches are also expected to conduct specialised coaching sessions during the academy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, former Berbice senior inter-county off-spinner Orvin Mangru encouraged the young cricketers to make the most of the opportunity to learn from the academy’s experienced coaches and resource personnel.
He emphasised the importance of the academy, noting that it has played a significant role in the development of numerous cricketers over the past two decades.
Mangru, one of Albion’s most successful captains who guided the club to several national first-division titles and still holds the record for the best bowling figures in an innings at the Regional Under-19 level (nine for 116 for Guyana against Barbados in 1999), also expressed appreciation to the sponsor Nizul Hussain, for his continued sponsorship.
The daily sessions are held from 8:30a.m. to 3:00p.m.
The academy concludes on Saturday, August 8.
