Digicel successfully stages CPL Big Brother Clinic with GAW at Providence

Jul 30, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....h-gaw-at-providence/

By Zaheer Mohamed

With the aim of promoting the game among the youths, Digicel successfully hosted the Caribbean Premier League Big Brother Programme with members of the Amazon Warriors yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The clinic saw members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team imparting the basic knowledge of the game to over two dozen boys from cricket clubs in Enmore and Zeeburg. The youths were divided into several groups and among the areas targeted were batting, bowling and fielding.
The youths were also given tips of how to improve their game by head coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, former West Indies Captain Roger Harper. Harper said he is happy to be part of such an initiative and hope it will be some benefit to the aspiring cricketers.
The Programme is designed to give youths from across the Caribbean the opportunity to be mentored by players from the teams in the five territories participating in this year’s Hero CPL.
Phase one will run to early August and will see the students being involved in more formal training. They will then ‘Take It To The Streets’ in phase two, as Caribbean cricket comes alive at the grassroots level when the sport will be on display on the beaches and roads.
Digicel Guyana, Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara said they are happy to be involved in such a clinic throughout the Caribbean, especially in the Digicel markets where CPL is will be played. She added that Digicel is huge on the promotion of youths and this is just another demonstration of that.
“What we always try to do is to incorporate that youth element into sports and the Big Brother Programme is to actually get boys who are interested in the game participating,” she noted.
She pointed out that these two clubs may not be given as much exposure as compared to other clubs in Georgetown so they thought it best for them to spend some time with the Warriors and Digicel.
Director of Sport Christopher Jones said the programme is an excellent initiative by Digicel which provides the opportunity for the youths to interact with the players who would have come from countries such as Pakistan. He said the Government will always support such venture.
Pacer Trinidadian Riyad Emrit, who has done similar work in several Caribbean territories, said it’s a wonderful venture and he is impressed with the talent of the youths.
He added that Guyana has an abundance of talent and this clinic can only enhance their skills. “We in Trinidad feel Guyana has a lot to choose from and it is good to see that they are learning very fast, I guess that’s why they are winning the four-day tournament,” he posited. Emrit added, “With this initiative we hope to see more youths coming along, it is always good to give back to the youths.”
Meanwhile, the entire squad of 17 players will have their first practice match tonight from 18:30hrs. The Guyana Amazon Warriors, the most consistent team in CPL will test their readiness against a Guyana Select XI with the likes of Paul Wintz, Akshaya Persaud, Romario Shepherd, Anthony Adams, Tevin Imlach and Eon Hooper.
The fifth edition of CPL opens on Friday August 4 in St. Lucia with the St. Lucia Stars taking on Trinbago Knight Riders at the Darren Sammy National Stadium, while Guyana Amazon Warriors get in to action the next day in Lauderhill, Florida against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots.