PowerGen cricket coaching targets Tobago youngsters

“Tobago have a lost of talented sportsmen and we want to give the youngsters a chance to develop their cricket and land spots on the national cricket team.” This intention was expressed by Corporate Communications Manager at PowerGen, Omar Khan, after the launch of the PowerGen Youth Cricket Coach-ing Programme in Tobago yesterday. Khan was addressing the youngsters at the Shaw Park cricket facility . “Tobago is an integral part of PowerGen’s development trust. We cannot launch a youth coaching programme in Trinidad and leave out Tobago. You have a lot of talented youths and we are here to give you a chance to learn the game in the proper way so that you can make a serious challenge for a pick on any of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket teams,” Khan said. “Our aim at PowerGen and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) is to have a strong unit of cricketers in Tobago so that the national team can get a constant supply of good players to choose from,” he added.

Cricket Board coaching director Baldath Mahabir who was also on hand to launch the programme said there was a new enthusiasm in Tobago cricket. “With the new dispensation comes a renewed enthusiasm for the game of cricket in the sister isle. I am sure with the efforts of the Tobago Cricket Association under new president Neil Beckles, as well as PowerGen and the Tobago House of Assembly, we are going to get great results from this programme and growth in Tobago’s cricket, which is so essential to the national make-up,” Mahabir said. The TCA will be utilising some former national cricketers as well as qualified coaches to assist in the programme. Leading the coaches will be former Trinidad and Tobago spinner John Pollard. He will have on his staff Garnet Gillman, Ken Williams, Clint Yorke, Alston Daniel, Lester Alleyne, Richard Murray, Morgan Sobers, Ashworth Sheppard, Mervyn Kerr and Clem Hercules. Last Thursday, PowerGen and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) launched the Trinidad leg of the youth coaching programme at the National Cricket Centre (NCC), Balmain Village, Couva.