GCA’s BrainStreet U-15 tourney launched

Apr 16, 2011 Sports

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New format aimed at preparing players for Regional competition

By Sean Devers

The BrainStreet Group has partnered with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) for the staging of its under-15 cricket competition which is scheduled to commence on Tuesday with five first round matches in the City.
The competition was launched yesterday at the Malteenoes Sports Club and GCA President Roger Harper said he was delighted with the launching since the adverse weather last year resulted in no youth cricket being played in the City.
The competition involves 10 teams including the Police Ladies team and schools sides representing Saints Stanislaus College and Queens College and will be played on a round robin basis for the League title before the top four teams on the points table clash in a 50-over knock-out tournament for the Knock-Out Cup.
Harper, a former West Indies Vice-Captain said that playing youth cricket during the school holidays is ideal since most players, especially in the under-15 division, miss school when competitions are played during school time.
“It great to see a sponsorship with the name BrainStreet being involved in youth cricket at a time when clearer, smarter and definitive thinking is lacking in many of our young cricketers, Harper said.
Harper, who like GCA Vice-President Neil Barry and head of BrainStreet Lance Hinds, are all former QC students and were among those at the head table yesterday, said sports helps to build Character, adding that sports and academics work hand-in-hand.
Harper disclosed that many are not aware that it is easier to get an academic scholarship overseas if you do well in sports and encouraged parents to understand the importance of sports in the lives of their children.
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The company continues to diversify its offerings to keep pace with emerging business trends. In 2010 BrainStreet signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Toon Boom Animation Inc. in Canada, to develop an offshore facility to provide animation and related production services to International television studios overseas. The services will include storyboard production, character and props design, background and layout design, sound design, post production, licensing and distribution.
Hinds, also the President of Malteenoes said he was pleased to be the corporate partner of the competition since as a sports administrator he understands the need for youth development and knows that sports makes someone a more rounded person.
“The timing of this competition is good since it will not impinge on exams. We have committed for one year with the option of another once the competition is a success,” Hinds said.
Barry said the format was different from previous under-15 competitions and revealed that the competition will be used to select the Georgetown under-15 team as the start of the process towards selection on the Guyana under-15 team. Guyana will participate in this year’s Regional under-15 tournament in Trinidad in June while the 2011 Regional under-19 series should be played in Guyana from July.
“The Regional tournament is a two-day competition and while time constraints did not allow us playing a two-day competition we structured this tournament along the lines of the English League system,” Barry, a former First Class wicket keeper batsman stated.
Barry explained that the games start at 09:30hrs and although it’s a one day match 100 overs must be bowled with the team batting first having up to 55 overs to bat while the team batting second will bat for 45 overs.
“If the first team is dismissed in less than 55 overs the second team will have their 45 plus whatever number of the 55 the first team failed to use up. The first team could also declare and this format, which places the emphasis on winning and has bonus points, should force captains and teams to think more since they will not be able to just go out and set defensive fields and play for a draw,” Barry said.
It was also disclosed that the Police Ladies team will not qualify to win the competition but once earned against them by the boy’s teams will count towards their standings on the points table and give the ladies, who don’t get the chance of playing much cricket, a chance to play more and to test the youngsters they oppose.
“Several incentives of educational benefits will be awarded to outstanding players instead of money while the GCA will provide two new balls for each match. One scorer will also be assigned to each match from among those who attended the recent two-day GCA scorer’s seminar while each team is also expected to have their own scorer,” GCA public Relations Officer Colin Alfred pointed out.
Hinds encouraged parents to attend matches and urged the Media to cover the games to help with the exposure of the players and the promotion of the competition.
Shawn Massiah of the GCA competitions Committee informed that in the opening round, Everest will face GCC at Everest, GYO take on MSC at GYO, Transport battle DCC ‘B’ at GDF, QC face off against Saints at MYO and Police Ladies oppose DCC at DCC.
Meanwhile, The GCA is inviting all captains and coaches from all the clubs which are scheduled to participate in the Competition to attend an important meeting on Monday at The Muslim Youth Organization, Woolford Avenue, at 17:30 hrs.
This meeting is to discuss the new format of the competition and any other matters pertaining to the competition.

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