Schools Cricket and upgrading of facilities vital to the game’s survival in Guyana

May 22, 2015 Sports

By Sean Devers
In Trinidad & Tobago schools cricket play a crucial role in the development of the game and that’s mainly why the Minister of Education in the twin island Dr Tim Gopeesingh is ensuring the game is played at school level.

Dr Rupert Roopnarine

Minister Gopeesingh played First-Class cricket in the 1970s and understands its importance in the school’s curriculum, something the previous Government and former Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony, a Medical doctor without a proper sporting background, seemed not too interested in doing.
Newly appointed Guyana Minister of Education, who is also mandated to service the now defunct Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Rupert Roopnarine also has a strong cricketing background.
The 72-year-old Dr Roopnarine captured 58 wickets bowling off-spin and scored an unbeaten half-century in 29 First-Class matches. He played First-Class cricket for Demerara and for Cambridge University (where he studied Modern Languages) in the English County Championships from 1964-1966.
Barbados has a sound schools cricket system while in Jamaica students must participate in athletics, football and cricket. So while one might assume that Education might be on the front burner in Dr Roopnarine’s Ministry due to his Academic background it must not be forgotten that he is also former First Class off-spinner and should be aware of the importance of school sports, proper sporting facilities and Government funding for teams leaving Guyana to represent this Country.
It was heartening to learn that Dr Roopnarine has already committed to funding the airfare and accommodation of the National Men’s & Women’s Basketball teams which travels

The Government owned PSU ground which hosted Inter-County youth cricket now looks like a jungle.

to the British Virgin Islands for next month’s Caribbean Basketball Championships.
Alvin Kallicharran, the former West Indies Test batsman is one of many who feel that if nation-wide school’s cricket is not resuscitated, cricket at the higher levels will struggle, since school’s cricket is the nursery that feeds the clubs, which feeds the counties, which feeds the Country and ultimately the West Indies.
Inter House and Inter-School’s cricket must be revived at every secondary school while Kiddies cricket has be a part of the Primary school’s programme with ministry paid cricket Coaches sent the various schools across Guyana.
Before I played for Guyana at under-19 level, I learnt to play cricket at the Stella Maris Primary school. We were coached by the late Mr Headley who was an Umpire. When I progressed to the Richard Ishmael Secondary, National cricketers Derrick Kallicharran and Andy Jackman were sent by the Sports Commission which was then located in Brickdam where Rex Collymore and

The ground opposite Stella Maris Primary is full of ‘cow holes’ and high grass.

the late William Jeffery were in charge of the cricket programme.
We practiced at the GTU ground on Woolford Avenue and at our school ground on which the North Georgetown Primary school is now located and had to take part in every sport unless a ‘medical’ preventing participation, was produced to the Games Master.
The best ground on Woolford Avenue was the then Tutorial School ground which is now no longer a ground while Students from Stella Maris, St Joseph’s High and North Georgetown Secondary would play on the ground opposite the Stella Maris Primary.
Queens College, which produced Dr Roopnarine and former West Indies Vice-Captain Roger Harper, had three grounds with pitches which were used for Northcote and 3rd Class cricket competitions in which QC participated.
Now those grounds cannot host any club cricket. St Stanislaus College also had a cricket ground. The East Ruimveldt Secondary and North Ruimveldt Multilateral opposite each other on Mandela Avenue were excellent cricket grounds which, under the past Administration became virtual ‘Jungles’.
This is also the case with many grounds on the East Coast including the LBI ground, East Bank had Diamond, the old Providence and an immaculate little ground behind the Sterling products Ltd. West Demerara boasted venues such as Versailles, Uitvlugt and Lenora where first Division cricket was played. Many of these grounds are owned by the State controlled Sugar Estates.
It is understood that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wants to refurbish the LBI ground where their indoor practice facility is located and where Inter-County cricket was played in the past. However, the past Government, which was at loggerheads with the GCB has given the Board the ‘Royal run-around’ and reports reaching Kaieteur Sport is that the GCB has now written to Guysuco official Berbician, Veeman Walters.
It is hoped that with the change of Government this issue will be looked at while cricket grounds in Essequibo like Suddie and Hampton Court which hosted Inter-County cricket, no longer host matches at that level. You get the picture?
New facilities is all well and good but if improvements are made to the ones we already have by resurfacing them and putting in Stands with roofs and washroom facilities, not only cricket but football, hockey and athletics can be accommodated at these venues.
In their Manifesto APNU+AFC promised funding to all sporting associations and assistance for traveling for National teams which will be welcomed by the respective associations. Only Football and Cricket receives any substantial funding from their parent body, the ICC and FIFA respectively.
The revival in Sports in Guyana will forge unity in communities, lessen crime, alcohol use and drug abuse by providing youths with a positive avenue to hone their sporting talent. Sports in Schools, providing Coaches to teach PE teachers (who should be placed in all Secondary schools), upgrading grounds and facilities, funding for National teams to travel overseas and developing a patriotic culture from the school level, should go a long way in reviving the standard of all sports in the beautiful 183,000 sq mile land called Guyana.