Courts offer $40,000 for Inter Zone cricket

It is the sixth annual competition backed by Courts whose representatives presented a cheque for $40,000 to the Board to stage the event.

Receiving the cheque was Cricket Board’s Forbes Persad from Errol Le Blanc, the Deputy Managing-Director of Courts.

In his address to members of the two teams that played in the opening match — Central and South East — Le Blanc said that Courts recognised the the need to provide positive avenues for young people to use their energies, and understanding the importance of cricket to West Indian people.

“We consider it a pleasure to participate in this Inter-Zone competition,” he said.”It helps to prepare you for the possibility of a professional career.”

Le Blanc said both the Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies cricket teams need an insurgence of new players who are passionate about the sport and their teams. “Just as we are passionate at Courts for our customers, our staff, and our goods and services,” he said. “When I say passion, I am referring to the enthusiasm that comes from within.”

“It is that powerful feeling that makes us practise until we are perfect at the game. When we come home in the afternoon and we head straight for the pitch, that is passion. You must walk onto the pitch with your bat with a sense of pride knowing that your contribution will determine the success or failure of the team,” Le Blanc said.

“Our passion for you motivates us as we have additionally supplied playing uniforms with your new logo to the players of the teams in the competition,” he said. “We are committed to our communities and to sports in particular as we hand over a cheque for $40,000 to the Board for the management of the Inter-Zone competition,” Le Blanc said.

Forbes Persad, the recently-appoionted Chief Executive Officer of the TTCB, said that at the Inter-Zone level players are given the opportunity to address the national selectors. “You must be prepared to send the correct signals in respect of your skills and talent to represent the country at the regional level,” he said.

Persaud said the tournament had the potential to produce national representatives. “So from which-ever point of view one looks at it, the Inter-Zone Compeition is a vital series in the board’s annual programme of activities,” he said.

He said the TTCB was focus-sing on a Youth Development Programmes targeting Form One students from 110 schools involving about 2,500 boys for training.

Within the next two weeks the board is expected to launch a High Performance Centre where specialised coaching for 128 boys from the eight zones would be available.

Later in the year young players in the Under-17 and Under-19 age groups would also be exposed to training at the High Performance Centres.

Persaud thanked Courts for its partnership with the TTCB in promoting cricket especially among the young people.