BCB to launch a massive inter-secondary school coaching programme in Berbice

Jun 16, 2022 Sports

– Part of a comprehensive developmental plan

Kaieteur News – The Berbice Cricket Board as part of a comprehensive developmental programme for the ancient county of Berbice would be unveiling a major countywide coaching programme for secondary schools. The programme would be officially launched early in July with sponsorship from one of the leading companies in Guyana. BCB President Hilbert Foster held discussions with the Chief Executive Officer of the company and was able to obtain a sponsorship of one million dollars for the historic coaching programme which would start in the new school year starting in September.

BCB President Hilbert Foster MS

Foster noted that the programme would involve twenty two secondary schools in Regions five and six. The vibrant BCB President stated that the schools would be divided into five sub zones – West Berbice, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje, Upper Corentyne and Central Corentyne.
A battery of coaches including Winston Smith, Julian Moore, Travis Hardcourt, Delbert Hicks, Leslie Solomon and Balram Samaroo would spearhead the programme which would last until March 2023. Each sub zone would undergo days of intense coaching with the coaches with special emphasis on batting, bowling, fielding, wicketkeeping and physical fitness.
The coaching part would be the second of three different segments of the comprehensive programme with the first being the donation of gears and uniforms to all of the schools. The multi million dollars donation would be done in conjunction with overseas Guyanese Lochan Samkarran, while the third and final part would be the hosting of five tournaments via the inter zone system.
The coaches after the end of the three segments would then select a forty man squad consisting of both male and female for further training. Every student attending the camp would also receive a copy of the BCB historic coaching manual. Foster stated that the BCB also intends to train at least one teacher from each school in basic coaching techniques, so that they would continue working with the students in school.
The BCB President hailed the upcoming school programme as another major red letter day in the history of Berbice Cricket and predicted that it would have a positive development in Berbice cricket. The main aim of the school programme would be to look for new players, to develop existing talent and to return the schools to their status as the nursery of the county’s cricket. The sponsor of the programme would also provide uniforms for the coaching staff and promotional materials.
The BCB has Guyana’s most active cricket development Coaching programme with the hosting of the Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme for clubs and the board also hosts clinics for the different aspects of the game on a regular basis. The BCB has also invited legends of cricket to conduct sessions with its players including Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Jimmy Adams, Dr Desmond Haynes, Roland Butcher, Reon King and Clyde Butts. Foster and his marketing team are also currently working to obtain sponsorship for another countywide coaching programme for students in primary schools and expect to make a major announcement soon.