Western Union Malteenoes Cricket Academy a success Director of Sports recognizes females at Academy

Aug 11, 2019 Sports

By Sean Devers

The Malteenoes Sports Club has been contributing to the development of Cricket and youths for decades since being founded in 1902 and last Friday the Thomas Lands club successfully concluded its Western Union Malteenoes Cricket Academy at the Club’s venue on Thomas Road.

The eager faces of Generation next at the Western Union Malteenoes Cricket Academy.

The club, in 1992, under the sponsorship of telephone company Northern Telecom (sponsors of the Regional 3-day U-19 Cricket Tournament at that time) launched the first ever Cricket Academy in the West Indies after forming a Youth Section which was the brainchild of then President Claude Raphael, a former National Selector and Director on the West Indies Cricket Board.
Over 100 participants attended from all over Guyana and the ‘out of town’ students were accommodated on the upper flat of the club for the six-week duration of the Academy.
During the late 1980s and 90s youth cricket at Malteenoes, which hosted U-19 Inter-County matches during the mid-80s, flourished and in 1987 half of the Guyana’s 14-man squad for the Regional U-19 tournament in Jamaica were Malteenoes players.
However, Steven Sankar was the last MSC player selected for Guyana at the U-19 level since 2003.

Jeremiah Kelvin dominated the awards in the U-12s and is presented with one of his three Awards from DS Christopher Jones.

This year’s two-week academy catered for 60 participants of both genders between ages 6-18, commenced on July 29 and was held between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours on the weekdays.
Among the non-cricket topics taught and discussed were; Etiquette Training, Public Speaking, Anti-Drug Awareness and Interactive and critical thinking sessions.
Vice President of the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Shawn Holder explained that this cricket camp has produced many young cricketers who went on to represent Guyana and the West Indies, including Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ryan Ramdass and female Indomattie Goordial, who graduated to play Test Cricket.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony was Director of Sports Christopher Jones, who delivered the closing remarks.
Jones recognized the presence of young females who participated in the camp and stated that their participation signaled the growth and development of the sport.
“Essentially what Malteenoes has recognized is the importance of male and female participation and we at the NSC and by extension, the Government, will continue to support this,” Jones promised.
The Director of Sport highlighted to the young participants, the importance of sports played in social cohesion.
Jones urged the participants to transfer the knowledge gained from this camp in their schools, clubs and Communities.
The Politician praised Western Union for recognizing the importance of showing support towards this developmental cricket camp.
In addition to remarks from Grace Kennedy (Western Union) Marketing Assistant Dennis Haywood, MSC executives and the Director of Sport, Academy Head Coach Orin Bailey stated that this camp was not the best for playing cricket due to the inclement weather.
Bailey, the Guyana Under-17 Head Coach, was however, pleased with the talent shown by both male and females.
Bailey was assisted at the Academy by Coaches Darien Best and Guyana and former West Indies female pacer Subrina Monroe.
Bailey called for this talent to be nurtured and stated that especially the females, must start at the school level where more talents will be exposed.
At the closing ceremony, outstanding participants were recognized for their efforts at the Western Union Malteenoes Cricket academy.
Jeremiah Kelvin was the best Under-12 batsman, best bowler and the best wicket-keeper in his category.
The best bowler award went to Joshua Bollers, while the best fielder was awarded to Yohan Greenidge.
The best all-round female award went to Safirah Summer, the most discipline male to Yogaishwar Seecharran. They all received electronic tablets compliments of Tele-Communications Ministry.
The best senior batsman was Emmanuel Lewis, best fielder and best senior bowler was Shamar Crawford and the best wicket-keeper was Shiloh Adams. All participants received certificates with their photographs.
The main sponsors were: Western Union, the home of Grace Kennedy, Roger Phillips General Store, Ministry of Telecommunication, USA Posse, PPDI, Ministry of Communities, Atlantic Marine, Tropical Spring Water, Star Party Rental, Narva Supermarket, Tucan Industries and Desinco Trading.
Special thanks were extended to Teresa Pemberton, Angelina George and Judge Bernie Stephenson and Owen Hughes, who conduced sessions at the Academy and all who contributed in making the Academy a success.

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