SPORTS
Newsday reporter
ONE of cricket’s biggest local youth development camps resumed in high gear on Sunday with former Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Rayad Emrit pledging his full support.
The fencer was speaking at the Invaders Recreation Ground in Felicity, Chaguanas when the camp resumed with nearly 150 participants after last Sunday’s session was disrupted by rain.
The initiative on consecutive Sundays, from 9am to noon, is piloted by Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally in collaboration with Richard Ramkissoon, president of premier Premiership club Central Sports.
Namrit, a professional T20 cricketer who has campaigned all over the world and just returned from Orlando, Florida, United States is one of the top flight coaches from Central Sports who has qualified with CWI Level Three credentials .
He said the idea has long been mooted by Ramkissoon, who wants Central Sports to have a development programme, and coming to the Invaders Ground it was good to see the response.
“It reminded me of Moosai Cub Camp when I was young seeing so many kids on a Sunday morning and I even brought them from the boy because the pandemic has taken a lot out of them and just being with their peers again is something every community needs to do. ” said Emriti.
Ramkissoon said the aim was to maintain the highest standards and was a non-profit exercise for the benefit of youngsters who were deprived of their favorite sport due to Covid19 restrictions over the past two years.
He said his expectations were very high for the remainder of camp, which is scheduled to end on August 28. But on the previous Sunday, the activities will move to the National Cricket Center in Balmain, Couva, where the enthusiastic stars of the future will get a taste. of the Cricket Board’s main training, playing and administrative facility.
Ramkissoon said Emrit has changed his modus operandi and while still playing the game has focused on imparting his knowledge and experience to help future generations of cricketers.
He recently led the U-17 national team in the CWI Rising Stars regional tournament which was organized in Trinidad and according to the Central Sports boss his future looks very bright in this arena.
MP Rambally thanked Emrit, whom he described as a “household name” for lending his immense experience and ability to motivate and train the participants, all accompanied by their parents and/or guardians for the duration of the session.
“Many of the children are playing with their peers in terms of socializing and providing a way to develop a love of play and their coordination skills in a fun environment,” Rambally said.
The MP, who was involved in flood relief during the week in Caroni, part of his large constituency, said Emrit’s presence will serve to inspire very young and mature children.
Other coaches from Central Sports involved in the program include Trinidad-born former Barbados spinner Ryan Austin and Red Force captain Imran Khan, along with other notable players.
