‘Pres’ boy voted top cricketer

The announcement was greeted with thunderous applause at the SSCL’s presentation function at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Mc Bean, Couva on Friday.

Deonarine was chosen from a group of five players which included Presentation College colleague Adrian Barath, Jeewan Ramroop (Toco Composite) and Dane Teelucksingh (Princes Town Senior Comprehensive).

He received awards for his recognition from Hyacinth Guy, Acting General manager of PowerGen, sponsors of the SSCL for the last ten years.

Deonarine performed briiliantly throughout the season and was particularly outstanding against ASJA College scoring a sparkling 100 not out and capturing eight wickets for 40 runs.

Asked how he felt about clinching the title, Valmiki said that he was very excited.

“ I am going to continue on this journey with purpose and dedication to hopefully one day wear a national cap and further down the road earn selection on a West Indies team,” the talented youngster said.

Also addressing the gathering was PowerGen’s Guy, who reminded the young players, that to play cricket one must have patience, stamina, self-discipline and and the ability to concentrate for the full period of the game.

“When the mental capacity fades the team loses focus and crumbles but the team that is able to maintain focus for the five days of a Test match will be the one that moves from being ordinary to extraordinary, and from mediocre to excellent,” she said. “So set yourself this goal to develop both your technical skills and your mental capacity for the game and when you play, always remember the spirit of the game and bring credit to yourselves, your family, your school and your country,” she said.

Guy said that PowerGen were proud to have played “a small part” in the developmental process of the young cricketers of the nation.

“And we are heartened to note the progress of some of our youngsters like Daren Ganga, Dwane Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Dave Mohammed, Lendl Simmons, Richard Kelly, Jason Mohammed and Adrian Bharat,” Guy said.

She said she was pleased to learn that the league has grown from 72 schools, involving 2,000 students, in 1997 to 120 schools, with over 5,000 taking part in 2006.

Guy said that a girls’ competition was now included in the SSCL, and that it was a sure sign of growth on the local cricket scene.

Deryck Murray, president of the TTCB, said that it was difficult for sports organisations to survive without sponsorship. And he was grateful to PowerGen for their commitment to the game, especially for the youth coaching programmes.

Despite whatever has been introduced in the cricket world, he said, Test cricket was still the yardstick that was used to measure progress.

Murray advised the young cricketers to balance their time effectively between academic studies and the game to benefit from the two exercises.

He encouraged the youngsters to build lasting friendships from being involved in the competition.

NATIONAL WINNERS —

GIRLS UNDER 15 — Barrackpore Secondary GIRLS OPEN — ASJA Girls, Charlieville.

BOYS UNDER 14 — Barrackpore Senior Comprehensive

BOYS UNDER 16 — Presentation College, Chaguanas

SUPER SIX — Presentation College Chaguanas

LEAGUE WINNERS — Presentation College,

Chaguanas

NATIONAL INTERCOL— Princes Town Senior Comprehensive