St John’s, Antigua – The WICB Digicel Grassroots Grant programme has been heralded by a senior club administrator on the island of Wakenaam, in Guyana as critical to ensuring that the youths develop into competent cricketers.
President of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee Sheik Ahmad said that clubs need assistance in developing facilities as it is a dire necessity in difficult economic times.
"Support for clubs is very integral to the development of West Indies cricket because players have to be nurtured and encouraged at a young age," Ahmad opined.
"This much needed grant initiative is the right way to go about developing grassroots cricket. I must commend the WICB for bringing this programme on stream and for bringing Wakenaam on board," said Ahmad who co-manages the Wakenaam Community Center Ground which will benefit from a Grassroots grant of over G$600,000 (US$3000).
The monies will go towards re-development of the outfield, building two sightscreens and the purchase of two brushcutters to weed the outfield.
West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan had previously donated a significant sum to help towards the construction of the pavilion and played in fund-raising matches to help with the maintenance of the pavilion.
Once the upgrades are completed the facility will be used to train cricketers from the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 cricketers.
The facility which is used by six clubs for practice and matches is the premier one on the island which is located in the Essequibo river. Sarwan was born on the island before moving to Georgetown to further develop his cricket.
The island which is bigger than Barbados has over 4000 persons, five primary and one secondary school.
Digicel Grassroots Grants Recipients
Barbados
Isolation Cavaliers – Pitches and cricket gears
Pickwick Cricket Club – Covers, nets, boundary rope, cricket equipment
St Catherine Sports and Social Club – Ground preparation and land filling
Trinidad
First Citizen Clarke Road United – Cricket gears and coaching
Orange Field Sports Club – Drive Mower
Antigua
Pigotts Sports Club – Cricket gears and drive mower
Dominica
Grand Bay Sports Committee – Covers, door and burglar bars
Guyana
Wakenaam Community Centre Ground – Sightscreen, ground levelling and rolling
Jamaica
St Catherine Cricket Club – Bowling machine, practice balls, training equipment
St Lucia
Choiseul Cricket Coach Programme – Coaches, playing surface, pitch construction and cricket gears