GBTI sponsorship for fifth annual RHTY&SC tape ball tourney

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club continues its stellar contribution to the development of youth and cricket in Berbice by securing sponsorship for the club’s Inter-Secondary Schools tape ball competition.

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), last Friday renewed its commitment to the development of the sport, by agreeing to sponsor the fifth edition of the tournament which will allow female defending champions, Port Mourant Secondary School and male defending champions, Corentyne Comprehensive the opportunity to battle with two other schools for bragging rights when the tournament commences.

The tournament seeks to promote sports as a safe alternative to a life on the road for youths; promote the Say No to drugs, suicide, alcohol, crime and Yes to Education, Life and Sports Message and identify the promising talents for the future.

Secretary and CEO of the club Hilbert Foster, indicated that the club will place special emphasis on the Say No/Say Yes Programme in 2017 by hosting at least 20 cricket tournaments in Berbice at the junior, female, schools and second division levels.

The RHTY&SC, voted the Guyana Cricket Club of the Year 2016, said it was very concerned with the state of Berbice cricket. There are a few cricket tournaments being played due to a court injunction against the Berbice Cricket Board and Foster has expressed disappointment that the major players in the administration of cricket seem more interested in settling personal vendettas than working for the development of the game.

The GBTI Inter-Secondary School Tournament would be played this month at the Area “H” Ground as soon as the weather permits, Foster said.

The top two schools at both levels along with the Player of the Finals would receive trophies and prizes. Foster expressed gratitude to the Management and Staff of the Port Mourant Branch of GBTI for their continued investment in the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and reassured them that the tournament as usual would be well organized and most importantly will achieve all of its objectives. A representative from the bank expressed delight at being able to be once again associated with the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club to organise the event.

According to the representative, he was confident that the event would be successful.

GBTI, he remarked, was fully aware of its corporate responsibilities and as such every year invests heavily in sports, culture, education and youth development.

Meanwhile, the club has also announced plans for a 20/20 cricket tournament for the same four secondary schools. The tournament will be played on a knock-out basis and would be named in memory of its late assistant secretary/CEO Farouk Kudrath. Each school would be allowed to play a maximum of four teachers per game. The winning teams, runner-up and Man of Finals would receive trophies and special prizes.