The Digicel CPL Cricket Series is an event that is hosted by Digicel in markets where CPL T20 is played each year. This initiative gives young aspiring cricketers a chance to meet and learn from their ‘heroes’ where they are encouraged and given tips by CPL players and coaches.
On Sunday September 8, Digicel Guyana and Guyana Amazon Warriors gave 20 deserving youths from Buxton Cricket Academy a chance of a lifetime.
The youths had the opportunity to meet members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, Shoaib Malik among others shortly before play on Sunday. Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer took the opportunity to give some encouraging words of advice to the youths.
Hetmyer encouraged them to get involved in sports since he sees this as a means of staying motivated and not falling by the way side, while Paul encouraged them to follow their dreams.
“Nothing comes easy, you have to be disciplined at all times,” noted Paul.
The 21-year-old also noted that sports can be the way out of poverty, since he knows what it’s like to work hard by using sports to change your situation. “Just keep training, working hard and stay focused.”
After the meet and greet the youths got to stay and watch the Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the Barbados Tridents, compliments of Digicel.
“We are very pleased to be a part of this activity today (Sunday), simply because providing these young people with an ‘experience’ and the possibility of changing the course of their lives through cricket is what the Digicel youth CPL series is all about. We are giving them opportunity to experience CPL first-hand and meet and learn from their heroes. This is the essence of cricket, to foster development and growth of tomorrow’s generation. CPL exemplifies this not only in Guyana, but throughout the region and Digicel cannot be any prouder to be a part of this,” Vidya Sanichara of Digicel said.
The youths, ranging from ages 13-19, are from the East Coast corridor and come from villages spanding Plaisance to Ann’s Grove.
Cordel Martins, one of the club’s members, expressed appreciation. “It was a great experience getting to meet players of such high standards having them tell us things that actually makes sense. Cricket is a great outlet getting us off the streets.”
The Buxton Cricket Academy strives to use sports as a means to give these youths a chance to focus on something positive. Martins is one such product of this as he was once getting himself into trouble on the streets. He is now gainfully employed and has developed a passion for the game.
“This is a great opportunity given to us by Digicel. We would like to thank them for getting to meet such great players and hopefully one day some of us in turn will become players like them and get to meet youths so we can inspire them like they inspired us today.”
In its third year, the Digicel CPL Youth Series continues to foster youth engagement and development. It has been conducted in the six competing CPL countries – Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia- and has provided more children the opportunity to hone their cricket skills and learn from the best talent in the game.
