RHTY&SC’s Hilbert Foster humbled to be honoured for contribution to Cricket

Apr 12, 2017 Sports

Long serving RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster last week was honoured by local sporting group, The EXERCISE for his outstanding contribution to the development of cricket in Guyana. Foster was honoured along with four

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives award from a Representative of the Exercise.

other sporting officials – Stanley Ming (Motor-racing), George Braithwaite (Football), Lavern Fraser (Netball) and Fizal Khan (Football). The Exercise Group consists of youths and its main objective is to push sports and social development for their peers. The founder of the Group is Stabroek News Sports Reporter and National youth cricketer, Royston Alkins.
Foster described the Award as a surprise, but a humbling experience. The RHTY&SC, MS Secretary stated that to be honoured by youths who are primarily based in Georgetown means that he and the RHTY&SC must be doing something right. Foster, who has been honoured by numerous organisations, stated that he accepted the Exercise Award because it was given by Youths, a section of the Guyanese population that he has worked hard to assist over the last 34 years. Foster first served as Public Relations Officer of the ST. Francis Roman Catholic Youth Club before founding the RHTY&SC, M.S in 1990.
The RHTY&SC, MS under Foster’s leadership has grown into one of Guyana’s leading cricket Clubs and has won the Guyana Cricket Club of the Year Award five times – 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2016. The Club has also won three national Cricket Championships including one female and has produced a total of sixteen national senior cricketers (Eight males, Eight Females), over fifty national juniors and over 100 for Berbice at all levels.
The RHTY&SC, MS has won a combined 56 major cricket championships in its 27th year’s history, while having the largest cricket development programme in Guyana.
Under Foster’s leadership the Club has Guyana’s only female cricket team, while its eight cricket teams are the only ones in Guyana to undertake social development activities. The teams combined undertake over 200 programmes/activities under a wide array of sub-headings.
The RHTY&SC, MS has also assisted over 140 other cricket Clubs across Guyana to fulfil their mandate by donating millions of dollars’ worth of cricket gears, trophies and other materials to them, while also providing cricket gears to dozens of youths to assist them to fulfil their dreams of playing the game. These players include ShimroyHetmeyer, Rajendra Chandrika, Guadakesh Motie, Askay Homraj, Linden Austin, Loyden Lewis, Shawn Perriera, Shemaine Campbelle and Plaffina Millington among others. Foster also spearheaded the restoration of the Area ‘H’ Ground from a swampland into a modern sports venue by raising over $20M.
The RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO also headed the Special Events Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board from 2008 to 2014 and successfully implemented over 1500 programmes/activities. He also secured sponsorships for over fifty cricket tournaments at the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 19, Under 23, Female, Intermediate, Inter Zone, Second Division and First Division levels. He also spearheaded hundreds of projects that transformed Berbice Cricket and its image to the highest level ever. The veteran Cricket Administrator also successfully led the massive celebration of the BCB 70th and 75th Anniversary in 2009 and 2014 respectively.
The RHTY&SC, M.S Secretary/CEO dedicated the Exercise Award to every member of the Club especially its Management. Special Mention was made of his brother Keith, Robbie Kissoonlall and Keith Hicks who were with him from the formation of the Club in 1990. The Awards were part of the Exercise Youth Group celebration of International Day of Sports and was held under the theme “Giving athletes a say, peace in play”. The Exercise is a non-profit initiative that seems to enhance the involvement of Guyanese athletes in multi-tiered activism within society. The organisation, which has been in existence for two years, is aiming at developing the capacity of athletes both on and off the field.