ECB hostel already making a difference – V.P. Bacchus

May 06, 2009 Sports

Thirty-two million dollars of the Stanford money allocated to Guyana was used to construct the Essequibo cricket hostel in Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast, and according to Vice-President of the Essequibo and Guyana Cricket Boards, Faizul Bacchus, the two-flat building is already making a difference.

The ECB hostel in Anna Regina is making a big difference for cricket development in Essequibo.

“We have been able to host two under-15 and under-19 county sides in addition to the encampment of the Essequibo and Guyana female under-19 teams.

The hostel is a big help not only to cricket in Essequibo but Guyana, since more matches can now be played in the Cinderella County and players are able to experience different conditions,” Bacchus stated.

Completed earlier this year, the hostel, which is located just beyond the northern boundary of the Anna Regina Community Centre ground, can accommodate two teams and is equipped with a functioning kitchen.

The indoor practice facility should be completed by month end to the south of the hostel and the earth for the pitches is presently being transported to the venue.

“Because of the recent rain, the indoor nets have been delayed but once the pitch is completed, the roof will be put up and lights installed, so that if players staying at the hostel want to practice at night they can do so. A bowling machine will also be available for the batsmen to get practice,” Bacchus, also a national youth selector informed.

Bacchus said that temporary electricity is being used, and explained that the ECB is waiting on the Guyana Power & Light to install a meter and the connection lines to the building. He expects this to be done shortly.

Work on the hostel, which is the Stanford 20/20 project in Essequibo, commenced late last year and the facility is expected to save the ECB hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in hotel costs and allow more competitions between the area associations to be played on the Essequibo Coast.

(Sean Devers)