Last Updated on August 9, 2024, 1:10 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: The Republic Bank ‘Five For Fun’ cricket tournament culminated with a thrilling finale at the Conaree Cricket Centre in Basseterre.
The exciting finale marked the culmination of several months of high-spirit competition among the primary school students from St Kitts and Nevis.
The competition features participation from various primary schools that were organised into zones. Throughout the tournament, teams competed enthusiastically for the coveted spots in the Finals.
‘Violet O Jeffers Nicholls Primary School’ emerged as the winners. Their team showcased exceptional talent and spirited teamwork to secure the first place in the final tournament.
The format of the tournament involved five-player teams competing across two innings of 5 overs each, emphasised inclusivity with a requirement of at-least two boys and two girls per team, ensuring all participants engaged fully in batting, fielding, and other aspects of cricket.
The Finals culminated with an award ceremony where the best performing teams and players received well-deserved awards.
Significant amount of audience of students, coaches, as well as representatives from the local cricket association gathered to witness the event.
Pamela Herbert-Daniel, Country Manager of Republic Bank in St Kitts and Nevis reflected on the impact of the tournament and expressed how each year they look forward to the development of the next generation of cricketers.
She also mentioned how this developmental programme has become a crucial pathway for students to advance and represent their country at the national levels and then possibly in Under 19s Leeward Island Team and eventually in the West Indies team.
Khushiyal Sing, Cricket West Indies Senior Project Officer- Schools Cricket and Head of Operations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup West Indies 2024 said, “At CWI, we take immense pride in our partnerships with Republic Bank, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Sport, the St. Kitts Cricket Association, and the Nevis Cricket Association.”
He mentioned that the goal is to continuously reinforce the collaborations, with a focus on advancing youth development to even greater heights.
Launched in 2021 through collaboration between Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies (CWI), the ‘Five For Fun’ programme focuses on fostering Under 12, short-format cricket among primary school girls and boys.
Beyond just skill development, the programme provides students with valuable opportunities for social and life skills through cricket.
The success of this year’s Five for Fun cricket tournament was made possible through the support of the St. Kitts Cricket Association and the Nevis Cricket Association.
Their contributions were influential in coordinating with the schools, organising the matches, providing coaches, and for a nurturing environment for young cricketers from the islands.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
