Latest update May 13th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 27, 2009 Sports
GUYBCA says preparations moving apace
By Sean Devers
The Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GUYBCA) says preparations are moving apace ahead of Guyana’s hosting of the 4th annual 40-Over regional blind cricket tournament from July 18-26.
GUYBCA said at a press conference at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Thursday, that hosting this competition, which involves Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, is an opportunity for Guyana to display not only our quality cricketing facilities but our hospitality and tourism products to ensure that this tournament enhances the image of this great nation.
The Leeward and Windward Islands were forced to opt out of the competition due to financial reasons and this year’s opening ceremony is slated for the Umana Yana on July 18 from 17:00hrs.
Guyana face Barbados at DCC and joint defending champions Jamaica and T&T square-off at MSC in the opening games on July 19.
Apart from the two City grounds, Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara and Wales on West Bank Demerara are the other match venues and GUYBCA says that it will cost them $5.166 million to stage the event.
Because of the last minute withdrawal of the Islanders, GUYBCA is now planning to stage a Celebrity match to conclude the competition and Guyana, 3rd in last year’s tournament in Trinidad, are fine tuning preparations under West Indies Blind Coach Barath Mangru at the GYO ground in Georgetown on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 15:00hrs.
The final Guyana team will be selected on July 2 and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), GT&T, NBS, DDL and VSO Guyana have already been confirmed as sponsors.
President of GUYBCA Mark Harper told the media that “all Guyanese should understand that we are representing Guyana here and not just having a blind cricket tournament”. He urged everyone to show support for the event.
Guyana first participated in the regional Blind competition in 2006 and Stanly Cooke, GUYBCA’s representative on the GCB Cricket Committee said the Board has the mandate to help develop all forms of cricket in Guyana. He opined that the governing body for local cricket has taken up that mandate very well.
Cooke commended Bissoon Singh, head of the GCB Cricket Development Committee and reminded that being blind could be a very traumatic experience.
Cooke remembered how his relatives told him ‘you are finished’ when he told them he had lost his sight and said that Blind cricket has caused a change of attitude in Guyana among the blind and care givers.
Harper said the GCB has donated $400,000 and discussions are in place for more non-financial support. The GUYBCA Head was also high in praise for the continued support for blind cricket in Guyana from President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Mention was also made of the contribution from the Sports Ministry, the National Sports Commission and the GYO, for their support of Guyana’s preparations. It was disclosed that GT&T will provide the uniforms for the Guyana team, while DDL will provide Gatorade for the players at all of the matches.
Cooke said that blind cricket has caused ‘waves among the blind society’ in Guyana and has helped to raising self esteem among the disabled in this country. He said Oliver Kerr’s 2008 National Sports Award for disabled persons is an inspiration for disabled persons in Guyana.
Ganesh Singh, who along with Kerr and Patrick Delon toured Pakistan last year with the West Indies blind team for the last Blind World Cup, was also present and told the gathering how blind cricket changed his life.
“After I got blind I did nothing and when I heard about blind cricket I decided to join, since I played cricket before I lost my sight. It is a dream of every young boy who plays cricket in our part of the world to represent the West Indies in cricket and to accomplish that by making the regional team is a great honour,” Singh said.
GUYBCA’s Treasurer’s and Director of West Indies Council of the Blind Teresa Pemberton said sponsorship is ‘going great guns’ adding that many business entities have showed an interest even if they have not yet confirmed their sponsorship.
Pemberton also informed that fund-raising activities have been planned with a Breakfast Morning from 07:00hrs to noon tomorrow at MSC, where a blind match will be played from 10:00hrs. GUYBCA is encouraging the public to come out and see blind cricket.
Pemberton said that had it not been for the personal intervention of President Jagdeo, Guyana would not have been able to participate at the regional level in blind cricket.
GUYBCA also said they are working towards decentralizing the game in Guyana and outreach programmes have been taken to Linden and Bartica and another is set soon for Berbice.
DDL’s Management Trainee Natasha Ramkoomar said it is important for the business community to support ventures like this one and reminded that DDL always supports sports and was glad to once again be on board a national sporting event with their Gatorade energy drink.
Anyone desirous of contributing to GUYBCA’s fund raising drive can make contact with Harper or Pemberton.
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