Sponsor spices up U-15 cricket tourney

A scouting programme has been added to sweeten the pot in this year’s 27th renewal of the Kingston Wharves Limited Under-15 Cricket Competition.

This new incentive falls under a $5-million package, which the multipurpose port terminal and logistics provider has allocated to fund the competition, as well as a training camp and the National Under-15 team.

With the reinforced commitment to the competition being focused on a wide-sprung development programme, the scouting initiative was planned to unearth and expose more talented individuals to selectors of the national Under-15 programme.

The tournament, being staged in tandem with the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and National Commercial Bank (NCB), got under way yesterday at Sabina Park with St Mary and St Andrew squaring off, following an official launch ceremony.

Mark Williams, chief operations officer of Kingston Wharves, outlined that his organisation’s commitment to the competition is to ensure the constant development of the players to further improve Jamaica’s cricket programme.

“We are not in this for the success only, and that is why our work with the JCA is to ensure that we put the right personnel, the right system and the right structures in place that we can get back to our right position.

“We have been doing this for 27 years because we believe in the youngsters and we believe this will help move cricket forward, therefore, we are very committed to continuing this partnership,” Williams noted while addressing the launch.

While underscoring that the competition has produced a number of Jamaica and West Indies stalwarts in Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, among others, he urged the aspiring stars to grasp this opportunity to be “all you can be”.

Kingston Wharves will continue to award a $50,000 bursary to be shared among members of the winning team to assist in offsetting educational expenses. Prizes will also be awarded to the runner-up team and top players from the competition, which will then be drafted into the training camp following the final scheduled for August 26.

“Part of our commitment is dependent on you and what you do on the field of play, and therefore, we ask that you give of your best to learn and develop as much as you can,” he stated.

The 40-over per innings tournament will be contested in a round-robin format across three zones in the inter-parish phase. Zone One will host defending champions Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, Portland and St Mary.

Zone Two comprises St Elizabeth, Clarendon, Manchester, St Catherine and the municipality of Portmore, while Zone Three includes Westmoreland, Trelawny, Hanover, St James and St Ann.

Subsequent to the parish tournament, there will be a County Championships which will end on September 9.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JCA Courtney Francis expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their continued commitment to the development of the sport.

“Cricket is known to imitate life and so naturally the Jamaica Under-15 team over the years would have shown successes and failures, but notwithstanding, Kingston Wharves has remained committed to this programme.

“They have played a significant role in the development of youth cricket in our country and it is not very often an entity can boast that they have engaged and entertained a sponsorship for 27 years, so we are humbled by the support,” he said.

Credit | The Jamaica Observer