Over 50 youngsters part of 21st Albion cricket academy

The 21^st edition of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club’s Cricket Academy commenced on Monday (August 7) at the Albion Community Centre, with over 50 young cricketers between ages eight and 17 part of the six-day activity.

The academy is sponsored by Connecticut businessman Nizul Hussain of Northeast Connecticut Renovation and Retailers Property Management.

Hussain, a swashbuckling opening batsman who has represented the Club at all levels, prior to him migrating to the United States of America, has sponsored the academy for the second straight year to the value of over G$300,000.

Sessions are held daily from 08:30h to 15:00h.

The morning sessions are made of lectures/discussions on topics such as the importance of education, discipline, public speaking, substance abuse, health and safety, motivation, the laws of cricket, among others, while in the afternoon, participants are exposed to fundamental of the game of cricket.

Morning sessions are held at the Albion Community Centre’s Main Hall, while the afternoon sessions are being held at the Jai Hind Ground.

Former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon, the Club’s Head Coach and one of six Test cricketers produced by Albion, leads the academy’s coaching staff, which also includes two other Albion and West Indies cricketers Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, along with the experienced Fabian Naiken, who has travelled all the way from Canada to join the coaching team.

Several prominent national coaches are also expected to conduct specialised sessions.

The Club’s Acting Secretary Prem Kanhai is the Chief Coordinator of the Academy, which concludes on Saturday (August 12), with his support staff being Simon Naidu, the Club’s Admin Officer; Treasurer Orvin Mangru; and Community Development Officer of Albion Estate, Dhanraj Arjune.