Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
UCCA holds successful inaugural Awards Ceremony
The Awardees show off their hardware yesterday after the presentation ceremony.
By Sean Devers
The sun smiled on Guyana’s most Eastern Town as Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) held it inaugural Awards Ceremony at the St Margaret Anglican Church Parish Hall Number 78 Village Corriverton yesterday.
Graced with the presence of Mayor of Corriverton Krishnan Jaichand, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB President) Hilbert Foster, former Skeldon Estate Sports Organiser Linden Murray and the first UCCA President Dr. Pooran Seepersaud, the two and a half hour event was held with pomp and splendour.
The UCCA was formed in 1988 with Dr. Seepersaud serving until 1991 when former Corriverton Mayor Roy Baijnauth assumed office.
Now under the Presidency of Dennis De Andrade the UCCA in collaboration with its parent body the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) staged yesterday’s elaborate Ceremony where the three former Guyana First-Class players from that area were inducted into the UCCA’s ‘Hall of Fame’, while several players, teams, schools and Administrators from Corriverton, were honoured.
One of three Townships in East Berbice, Corriverton is bordered by the Dutch Nation of Suriname just across the Corentyne River and once hosted Regional Cricket at Skeldon Community Centre ground, one of four grounds in the Ancient County to host First-Class matches. However, the Skeldon ground is in an unplayable condition with a grass almost as high as the wicket.
The three former players inducted yesterday were former British Guiana Wicketkeeper Sydney Jackman, batsman the late Chimwala Munilall and slow bowler Imran Jafferali.
The still sprightly looking 73-year-old Jackman made his Regional First-Class debut against T&T in Trinidad in 1966, replacing Reds Murray and played four matches. He had five catches and two stumpings after playing for British Guiana Colts against Australia Colts the year before at Bourda.
Jackman played 13 First-Class games; the others being for Berbice since the Inter-County Final was given First-Class status until 1990.
He is presently the UCCA’s Vice-President and served as Mayor of Corriverton from 1971 to 1973.
The late Munilall was born in 1948 in Port Mourant and also played for City side Everest. He played six Regional First-Class games between 1968 and 1976 and a single 50-over game in 1973.
In his seven First-Class games for Berbice he notched up three fifties with his highest being 77.
The 37-year-old Jafferali hails from Skeldon but now resides in the USA. He made his First-Class debut in 2005 and played five times up to 2007. His best performace was 3-27 against the Windwards in St Lucia in 2005. He never took a five-wicket haul for Berbice.
West Indies B team Captain Anthony Bramble, who played for Skeldon before joining Albion, along with National female players Melanie Henry and Sheneta Grimmond, who hail from that part of Guyana were honoured for their recent achievements, while Administrators Zamin Bjwarsiar and Vikey Bharosa were also recognised for their contribution to cricket in Upper Corentyne.
Nine U/C’tyne players including Bhim George, who was in Guyana’s First-Class squad in 1998, were also honoured. The others are Kawal Prashad, Esmond Winter, Patrick Ramsingh, Herman Jagdeo, Walter Bovell, Joe Dulam, Dowlat Ramgaram and Kari Chandrapaul.
The BCB recognised the 16 schools who participated in the UCCA schools tournament (Five Secondary & 11 Primary). Tagore Memorial was adjudged secondary school of the year, while Massiah Primary, winners of the Primary School competition, was the Primary School of the year.
The BCB presented 20 clubs with a box of balls each and the two UCCA 1st division teams (Skeldon & U/C’tyne) received 12 caps each, while five Educational posters were given to all the clubs in the area.
Vetorie Latchman (U-15), Haresh Ramlachan (U-17) and Torend Shiwband (U-19) were awarded for being the best players in their category.
Jackman read the UCCA report, while Foster urged the clubs to put their houses in order to ensure that cricket is played before Seepersaud congratulated the UCCA for a wonderful job done.
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