Kingston Wharves grooms world-class cricketers

photo: Grantley Stephenson (2nd Left) CEO of KWL makes a point to three Kingston players at the launch of the 26th Kingston Wharves Under-15 Cricket Competition on Tuesday at Sabina Park in Kingston. The players are (l-r) Michael Spence, Matthew Comerie and Okachie Brown.  Sharing in the conversation were Mark Williams (L) COO at KWL and Courtney Francis – CEO at Jamaica Cricket Association.

Former West Indies cricket team captain Chris Gayle, West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) President, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Stafanie Taylor and a number of other accomplished Jamaican names in the international cricket arena, all share a common history of having their crafts honed in the Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) Under-15 Cricket Competition.

Speaking at the launch ceremony to mark the start of the 26^th year of the competition last Tuesday at the Sabina Park, KWL boss Grantley Stephenson lauded the tournament for its role in helping to prepare youngsters for challenging and rewarding careers in the sport and in wider facets of life.

‘We continue to be impressed with the results delivered by the developmental platform the competition provides. Players consistently graduate the KWL under-15 series to represent Jamaica at the highest levels; and not only that – we get to witness the transformative power of sports when the boys return to their communities with improved confidence and attitudes”, he told the audience gathered at the launch.

He added that for the second consecutive year, KWL would be awarding educational bursaries to four of the deserving cricketers, at the end of the competition, based on their performance both on and off the field.

Matthew Comrie, repeat player in the KWL league and current Jamaica College student also addressed the audience.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to play in this competition, I meet players from all over Jamaica and all of us get better and better each year” Comrie said.

The competition is a welcome partnership with the Jamaica Cricket Association, whose CEO Courtney Francis commended KWL for its flagship sponsorship of the event, which he proudly shared was the longest-standing sponsored cricket competition to-date.

Fifteen teams (14 parishes and portmore) will compete in the competition this season which bowled-off at the Sabina Park pitch following the launch.  Zone winners and the best placed second place team will go to the semi-finals on August 25, with the final game set for August 28.