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GCA/Guyana Diabetes Association U17 T20 launched
Representatives of the GCA, GDA, Ansa Mc Al and players display the jerseys that will be used during the tournament.. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)
By Zaheer Mohamed
The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) in collaboration with the Guyana Diabetes Association (GDA) and Ansa Mc Al yesterday launched this year’s edition of their U17 T20 tournament at the Demerara Cricket Club, Queenstown.
The tournament which involves eight teams will commence today at several venues in Georgetown.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, President of the GCA Roger Harper said he is pleased to stage the tournament once again adding that they have embarked on a youth cricket festival for the Easter Holidays. “Its really an extravaganza of youth cricket and I must express gratitude to the Guyana Diabetes Association which has helped to keep our youth programme going and we were able to build on that tournament this year therein we have included an U13 tournament, U15 and our U19,” he added.
“Throughout these tournaments our youths will be occupied meaningfully which is an important tool this country needs that they seem to not appreciate and recognise in fighting crime.”
GCA President Roger Harper addresses the gathering at yesterday’s launching. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)
Harper stated, “As you herd earlier through cricket we teach team work, inculcate team spirit, build good relations and most importantly discipline. In particular through the GDA U17 tournament the focus will be even more because all the sport encourages healthy life style and the players will have the opportunity to be tested for diabetes,” he added.
Harper, a former West Indies Vice-Captain and arguably one of the finest fielders of his era, pointed out that one of the things a lot of people failed to realise is that diabetes is unlike most illnesses where people immediately started to feel unwell and get treated. “Sometimes people have diabetes and don’t know until the disease has a negative on their body and causes damage internally without even realizing it. So if you have the opportunity to be tested then make full use of it and get to know your status at an early age and this can make a tremendous difference throughout your lives,” he said.
However, Harper stated that the emphasis is on cricket and thanked all the stakeholders for giving the youths an opportunity to showcase their talent. He noted that a number of players who have played in this tournament have gone on to greater heights.
He encouraged the players to play hard, with purpose and with a sense of passion as well as in the right spirit.
President of the GDA, Glennis Beaton-Alonzo, said that cricket can be used to help manage Diabetes because it promotes team work, help device strategy and encourages discipline.
“Management of diabetes comes with a team, it’s the family, it’s the community, it’s the doctors, the nurses, we have to work with them because diabetes affects the entire body, and we trust unless we work as a team, we cannot get proper management, thus the cricket competition.”
She added that the tournament plays an important role for the association, since testing for the non-communicable disease at an early age will be a priority for each participating cricketer.
Ansa McAl representative, Kalawattie Datt-Singh expressed her company’s eagerness with the venture, which is aimed at raising awareness of the disease.
Chairman of the GCA Competition committee, Shaun Massiah, gave an overview of the tournament. The competition will be divided in to two zones with St. Stanislaus, GNIC SC, DCC and Everest Cricket Club in zone A while zone B comprises of Transport Sports Club, Malteenoes Sports Club, Gandhi Youth Organisation and Georgetown Cricket Club.
He indicated that one of the semi finals and the final will be played under lights at DCC. Today’s fixture pits GNIC against St. Stanislaus and DCC opposing Everest Cricket Club. Both games are set for DCC. Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) will host GCC while TSC play GYO also at MSC.
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