By Akeem Greene
The second edition of the riveting Prime Minister’s Softball T20 Cup will make its grand return from October 19-21 and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan has given his full support for the tournament and pledged $300,000 towards the event.
At the launch of the event on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club, Ramjattan expressed that such events aid persons in being able to deal with the pressures of life.
“In life, you will face challenges and what sports make you is a better able to confront those challenges. After experiencing it on the ground or off the field, you become better equipped to deal with those challenges,” the Minister said.
The Minister added, “Young kids and young men who are indulging in sport take their minds off the negative things that they could have otherwise be talking [about] that could lead them into other negative things.
“This helps our society to be safer, so I’m very supportive a second edition will occur.”
President of the Georgetown Softball League Cricket Inc. (GSLC), Ian John explained that in the Open category, they will be the conventional ‘round-arm’ bowling and not ‘flick bowling’ in keeping with overseas tournament rules, however, the latter will be allowed in the Masters category.
According to John, the Most Valuable Player (Open) will win a Dawn 150 motorbike compliments of Hero Motorcycle while the winner in the Masters cops a flat screen television. Most notably, a special donation will be made to the Florida Open Charity Organisation.
The winning team in the Open earns $700,000 and $100,000 for second place while in the Masters, $600,000 for first and $100,000 for second.
Representatives from two of the main sponsors, Rawle Nedd, Banks DIH Brand Manager and Sarah Persaud from Hero Motorcycle spoke of their continued commitment of the event based on the success of the inaugural year and wished the teams best of luck while calling for fans to come out in their numbers to support.
Held in collaboration with the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Education, Department of Youth Culture and Sports, matches will be staged across 10 grounds in the city, with the final billed for Everest.
To date, 23 teams have expressed interest – 15 in the Masters (Over 45) and eight All-stars. The Masters come from: Regal, Wellman, HS Maters, R.R Masters, Fisherman Masters, Parika Masters, Success Masters, Tropical Spring Masters, Albion Masters, Florida/Guyana Hope Masters, Impact Masters (Canada), NYSCL Masters (New York), Rebel Masters (New York), New York Hustlers, and Better Hope Masters (New York).
In the open category: Regal All-stars, Speedboat XI, Farm XI, Success XI, Boots All stars, Corrievton Spartans (Berbice), Die Hard All-stars (Essequibo) and Bartica Rangers.
Registration fee is free but organisers are asking all teams to be uniformed, which can be made at Regal Sports, another sponsor of the event.
