LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP
June 10th 2008

‘Service to Humanity is Service to God’
..... as Sangre Grande honours outstanding citizens

FOUR outstanding personalities from Sangre Grande and Environs were honoured by the Explorers Sports and Cultural Club during a gala ceremony held at the Brooklyn Recreation Ground last Sunday.

National youth selector and longstanding coach of the North-East Zone, David Moffett, along with Sports and Culture activist Melvin Thomas, businessman Tony Katwaroo and educator Mena Dasent were showered with accolades in front of the large gathering that included a wide cross section of the community.

Delivering the feature address, Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary of the T&T Cricket Board, Forbes Persaud, commended Explorers Sports Club, for taking the initiative to pay tribute and show appreciation to individuals for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Persaud urged that other organisations across the country should take example from Explorers and hold functions like this in their respective communities.

“I salute Explorers for taking this initiative to show appreciation to these individuals who have made and continue to make a most significant contribution to this community and the nation in general.

Other organizations should take example and conduct similar exercises which will definitely redound to the benefit of our country,” Persaud stated.

The CEO stated that while he was familiar with Dasent and Katwaroo and their contribution to the community, he claimed that he knew Moffett and Thomas personally and have been interacting with them for more than four decades and endorsed all the sentiments and accolades that were showered upon them by the previous speakers.

“I have known Moffett and Thomas for more than forty years and I certainly endorsed the sentiments expressed by the previous speakers with respect to their sterling contributions to this community and the nation in general. Therefore I say with a degree of authority that your awards today are most deserving indeed,” Persaud said.

The T&TCB official reminded the awardees that ‘Service to Humanity is Service to God’ and stated that it was his fervent wish that they will be granted the strength, energy and the will to continue the outstanding work that they have been doing.

In his welcome address President of the club, Junior Khan said that his club was not only interested in developing the game of cricket but was also very much interested in making a meaningful contribution to the development of the community in general. Also addressing the gathering was the CEO of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Keith Aaron who also complimented the club and congratulated the recipients on their awards.

Aaron also pledged the Corporation’s support towards maintenance and upgrading of sporting and recreational facilities in the area. Principal of North Eastern College Vishnu Siewnarine read the profiles of all the awardees to whom he also paid glowing tributes. Briniging greetings on behalf of the North East Zone of the T&TCB was chairman Arjoon Ramlal.

The function was chaired by community worker and former chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Taran Sooklal. The programme was coordinated by the live wire of the club Vishnu Rambaran.

BG TT - deepening their involvement in youth cricket

LEADING sponsor of age-group cricket in T&T, BG TT has already began discussions with the T&TCB to deepen their involvement in youth cricket, so that this sport and the citizens involved can contribute directly to the building of a great Trinidad and Tobago.. This was stated by Mark Regis - Manager of Policy and Corporate Affairs BG T&T.

" We were very pleased with our sponsorship of youth cricket in this our 13th year of sponsorship. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, our partners in this sponsorship, for running a very tight efficient ship. I would also like to thank the many coaches, the parents, the teachers and of course the participants themselves,” Regis said.

Regis said that one of BG T&Ts key focus areas for social investment is in youth development through sport and our cricket sponsorship is a shining example of the success of our young citizens.

“ I have seen, first hand, the commitment and dedication that they have put out into this tournament and I am indeed hopeful and excited for the future, not just for the game of cricket, but for the nation. It is BG T&T's intention to continue to help nurture this enthusiasm and channel this positive energy for the greater good of the individual, the game of cricket and for Trinidad and Tobago,” Regis added.

“As you are aware, BG T&T is heavily involved in sponsoring cricket and you are living proof that the expansion of our sponsorship last year to include the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 groups is definitely a step in the right direction. We believe that participation in competitive sport at this level helps to keep our youth become engaged in productive activities and away from the negative influences that are so prevalent in our society today,” Regis further stated.

Hard-working CEO and General Secretary of the T&TCB, Forbes Persaud praised the involvement of BG T&T in the development of youth and age-group cricket in the country.

“ With corporate sponsorships from organisations such as BG T&T, it is definitely a step in the right direction in harnessing and nurturing the youth of our nation,” Persaud said.

BG T&T 2008 HONOUR ROLL

Under-13
Final standings
East 15 pts, Central 12, South 9, North 9, South-East 8, North-East 3, South-West 0, Tobago 0.
MVPs - Andy Gobin (Central), Kelly Rosales (North), Al Small (South-East), Kurshawn Lewis (South), Stephen Seepersad (South-West).

Under 15
Final placings
East (winner), South, North, Central, South-East, North-East, Tobago, South-West.
MVPs - Mark Deyal (Central), Akeel Hosein (North), Stephen Sooklal (North-East), Chris Mohammed (South-East), Dwight Pope (South-West), Stephen Katwaroo (South).

Under 17
Final Placings
Central (winner), South-East, North, North-East, South, Tobago, South-West, East.
MVPs - Kieron Joseph (Central), Kevon Charles (North), Darron Beekha (South-East), Sachin Boodram (South), Ajay Calpu (South-West).

Under 19
Final standings
South-East and Central (joint winners), East 32 pts, Tobago 26, North 20, South 12, South-West 4, North-East 0.
MVPs - Sheldon Dogan (South-East), Vaaroon Samaroo (South), Ako George (Tobago), Clint Renaud (South-West), Hakim Mitchell (North), Kjorn Ottley (Central).

‘Parkites’ to take part in Sir Garfield schools series

THE QUEEN’S PARK Cricket Club has again accepted an invitation from the Barbados Tourism Authority to participate in the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament from July 4-25.

This was revealed by former West Indies Test opening batsman Bryan Davis and current Cricket Administrator/Technical Director of Queen’s Park.

“It is with great pleasure that we accept your invitation. It will be our seventh year of participation and it has assisted us in developing our youthful cricketer’s skills and social adaptability,” Davis said.

The team for the tournament is expected to be finalised shortly.

Mix windball bowls off on June 19

FOR the first time in South, companies will do battle in the first ever 5/5 one day Corporate Mix Wind-ball Cricket Competition.

Cross Sports Manager of events Frankie Boodoo disclose this at a meeting last Thursday, at the Petrotrin Sports Club, Point-A-Pierre. This event will bring together cricket teams as they compete for over $10,000.00 in prizes.

The competition will be played in four rounds of , with the first round being played in a round robbin format and the top qualifiers advancing to the knock-out stage.

Also the women will have an important part to play since one of them on each team will have to bowl one over.