A boost for talented rural young cricketers
by Richard Dwight
Lady luck will fortuitously be smiling shortly, on 16 underprivileged
promising cricketers under the age of 14 - mostly hand-picked from
outstation rural schools, who will be trained and coached with all
amenities and facilities provided.
These deserving talented youngsters, lacking the wherewithal for want
of funds, to become drop-outs and lost to cricket will now immensely
benefit by the active sponsorship program envisaged by Lion Brewery of
Ceylon Limited (LBCL) with the concurrence of Fingara International
Cricket Academy (Pvt) Ltd. (FICA).
A tangible expression for this most welcome praiseworthy venture was
made, when the Executive Director of FICA, Tony Opatha and the Head of
Regular category LBCL Manjuka Prasantha signed an agreement on behalf of
their respective companies.
It was gathered from Opatha at a media briefing held on Monday in
connection with this venture at the 'Eighty Club' that the sole
objective of this program is to lend a hand to the talented, outstanding
hapless cricketers who need somebody's assistance to enhance their skill
and also to extend support for them to rise to international level in
cricket ultimately.
From around 50 young cricketers under the age of 14, selected mainly
from rural schools the final selection of 16 who will benefit from this
program, will be made by Duleep Mendis, Anura Tennekoon and Tony Opatha.
These 16 youngsters will be coached at the FICA for a period ranging
from 3 to 5 years, where their coaching fees, clothing and yet other
equipment will be borne by the LBCL. It is estimated that the LBCL will
be spending a quarter of a million rupees on each child for a period of
5 years. There will, in addition, be reciprocal visits to and from by
youngsters, to be engaged in matches and yet other educative excursions.
The Deputy Chairman FICA, Mervyn Jayasinghe, who is also the Director
Ceylinco Consolidated was appreciative of the efforts and co-operation
extended at all times to FICA by the media. The progress, since coming
into be within the 3 months, FICA Jayasinghe said has made good progress
with John Dyson and Trevor Chappell chipping in as coaches to help and,
that Richard Hadlee too will be coming over to assist.
All this and the fact that the trainees will have access to the
Gymnasium, Bio-Mechanics, Swimming pool and yet other sports, with a
sports medicine centre to come, does augur well, added Jayasinghe.
Manju Prasantha of Lion Brewery said as a company, they were eager to
be involved with Sri Lanka Cricket, and were waiting for an opportunity
to assist, especially the deserving rural children, who had no scope to
better their skills. It was timely he said that we entered into a
partnership with FICA who will assist to identify these children and
coach them as well.
There is every reason to believe, that this far sighted program will
bear results for the good of Sri Lanka Cricket. |
