Lequay says sports is the cure for social disorder

A SURE WAY to get young people away from the social disorder which is now gripping Trinidad and Tobago is to channel their energy into sporting activities. Alloy Lequay, Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, (TTCB), said so while addressing the Under 13 KFC-sponsored Cricket Prize-giving Function at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre, Balmain, Couva on Friday. “Do encourage your children to participate in sports as it is one of the main avenues of human activity that will help them to pursue a healthy course through life’s journey,” Lequay advised.

“Sports is that activity which teaches us about discipline,  self-esteem, national pride, commitment, and dedication and which brings about a new mindset that would help them to grow into better young men and women much more prepared to make a positive contribution in the process of nation building,” he said. Lequay said the WICB do not yet have a regional Under 13 tournament. However Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados have been engaging in Under-13 competitions over the last five years. Only last year Yanick Cariah made the first century (152 not out) for TT in the goodwill series and and Lequay has high hopes for the young man in the game, at the national level firstly and then for the West Indies. Lequay hinted that in December a USA Under-13 Team will be visiting TT which would give further exposure to the local players so that they would gain more confidence. He said the Under-13 Tourna-ment was the “nursery in the Board’s developmental plans which would propel those with the proper discipline to move ahead into the Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21.”

Lequay pointed out that Ravi Rampaul (19) and Dwane Bravo (20) came through that route and now they were on the West Indies team. “You too could achieve that distinction if you cultivate a serious approach to the game.” Wendy Alleyne, KFC’s Brand Manager, said “this year’s tournament was of a very high standard and this augurs well for the game.” “You are the future stars and upon whom we must build our cricket and return to the glorious days when we ruled the cricketing world,” she said.

She stressed that “we at KFC have always stood firmly behind you and it is our intention to continue to do so because we have always been firm believers that the corporate world must play a key role in the development of the nation’s young people.”
The Under 13 Tournament started in 1997 and it was from 1999 that KFC came on board with their sponsorship and they intend to continue doing so for many more years.

Most Valuable Player awards: NORTH (Finger Lickin Good) — Nicholas Alexis; NORTH EAST (Zingers) — Shivon Sankar; CENTRAL (Crunchers) — Kristopher Ramsaran; SOUTH (Colonel Sanders) —Marlon Briceno; SOUTH EAST (Snack Pack) — Bevan Lewis.
WINNERS: North.
Runners up — South.