T&TCB invest $$$$ in youth programmes
September 3rd 2008

THE T&T Cricket Board has ploughed close to $250,000 to each of its seven zones during the last three years, to assist with its youth developmental programmes.

This was revealed by the board’s General Secretary and CEO, Forbes Persaud at the official launch yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval of the High Performance Centres.

And the estimated cost for the HPC over the six-week period will be in the vicinity of $500,000.

The third edition of the HPC will get underway tomorrow at various centres in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Persaud, apart from cricket there will be resource personnel who will lecture to the participants on topics such as leadership, diet and nutrition, goal setting, time management, interfacing with the media etc. Persaud said that board’s biggest challenge is to develop the participants into well-rounded players and individuals ahead of their professional careers.

“The High Performance Centres are high on the list of the T&TCB calender and for the first time, the U18s are being targetted. It is another phase of the board’s developmental programmes. We want to ensure that our young cricketers become well rounded and better individuals for their international careers,” Persaud stated.

Also speaking at the launch was the Principal of the South-East Port-of-Spain Secondary School, Patricia Charles.

She said that she is delighted to be a part of this programme.

“ The T&T Cricket Board must be complimented for having a programme like this. The board has kept it as a model. Keeping the youngsters well trained and keeping them on track,” Charles said.

Several T&T Under-19 players who participated in last month’s TCL Group West Indies Cricket Challenge in Barbados are among the cricketers taking part in the exercise, including Aaron Alfred, Yannick Ottley, Kissoondath Magram, Yannic Cariah, Rixon Maniram and Evin Lewis.

T&T and West Indies Under-15 allrounder Derone Davis is also among those who will be taking part in the programme.

Among the facilitators will be former West Indies Test players, Larry Gomes and Raphick Jumadeen.

Also speaking at the HPC launch were T&TCB president, Deryck Murray and executive member, William Wallace.