Dr Seepersad urges U-15s to aim for top

NINETEEN Under-15 cricketers were urged to aim for the top in their sport. This advice came from  West Indies Cricket Board, chief cricket development officer Dr. Michael Seepersad.

The youngsters from throughout the Caribbean were receiving  certificates of participation at the end of a two-week camp at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre, Balmain, Couva, on Friday. Dr Seepersad told the young cricketers “take your cricket seriously and aim for the top to represent the West Indies some time in the future.” Described as the best Under-15 cricketers in the West Indies today, by Dr Seepersad, the trainees were exposed to batting, bowling and fielding skills, as well as mental, social and emotional preparedness.

He said the exercise was to  “help shape outstanding players to represent  their countries at the level of Test Cricket. “You are the best possible group of youngsters that we have put together for this training and we hope that what you have learnt here will serve you, your country and the entire Caribbean region in the best possible manner so that at some point in time we could regain our position as the No 1 cricket team at the internationl level,” Dr Seepersad said. He noted with pleasure that Tishan Maraj, captain of the 2000 Under-15 team that won the Costcutter World Tournament in the United Kingdom, and who is now a member of the Under-19s in Guyana, was successful in the Advanced Level examination, gaining four A’s , and has been accepted to pursue his studies at Oxford University, England.. “Obviously then it is well worth emphasising that sports and education do mix well, so as youngsters you must complete your education while taking your cricket seriously,” Dr. Seepersad advised.

He asked, “If we can do so well at the Under 15 and Under 19 Level, why are we so lowly placed at the International level?” Dr Seepersad then explained, “That is why we have organised this Camp so that you can be exposed to the science of the game from an early age and go on to condition and equip yourself in such a manner that you would be left with no alternative but to strive for excellence.” Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Alloy Lequay said they were creating facilities in the country that would produce cricketers of a high standard. Lequay pledged support for West Indies cricket and hoped that the National Cricket Centre at Balmain, Couva, would assist the  regional team  to regain past international glory. Top local coach Bachan Boochoon headed the panel of facilitators, with assistance WICB training development officer in Trinidad and Tobago Kumar Rampat and 17 other lecturers. The youngsters came from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, St. Vincent,  Antigua, and Bermuda.