The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) will host its annual youth camp from August 13-24 and the executives are hopeful they can attract over 120 participants. The aim is to nurture some of those youngsters into future Windies stalwarts.
The camp, which was first held over a decade ago, was launched on Tuesday (June 26) with a simple ceremony at the club’s Queenstown location.
President Roger Harper stated that the camp over the years helped to identify young talents not just to develop the club, but Guyana and West Indies cricket.
“A lot of players who have gone unto the highest level have emerged from this camp and the (camp) serves not only to find talent for the club but it identifies talent for Guyana and West Indies,” he reckoned.
The former West Indies all-rounder added, “There is renewed focus at the club regarding development and we want to produce national players of note. We know it’s a long process but we start that process and continue it through our camps.”
Harper further stated the camp is not just an opportunity for participants to learn about the sport, but also edify and discipline them on life skills. In previous edition, the camp received significant support from corporate Guyana and the president made an appeal for the trend to continue.
Technical Director of the club, Garvin Nedd, stated, “In years gone by the club has been the pinnacle of West Indies team and we definitely want to return there, but we have to put in the hard work and once we do, we can see it happening again.”
Nedd highlighted in recent years, the likes of Keemo Paul, Tevin Imlach, Raymond Perez, Ashmead Nedd, Sachin Singh and Qumar Torrington were some of the budding prodigies who attended the sessions and went on to play for Windies youth teams.
Apart from being educated on the basics of the sport , the participants will have ‘master classes’ under the instruction of former West Indies players Roger Harper, Travis Dowlin and Reon King, while national player Paul Wintz and Nedd, who is a national youth coach, will give assistance.
The club is asking interested participants to be attired in track pants, white t-shirt and track shoes during the sessions. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
The camp runs from 09:00h to 15:30h Monday to Friday and caters for ages seven to 18, with the registration fee being $4,000 per person. The forms can be uplifted from the club’s Lance Gibbs and Peter Rose streets location.
