High school cricketers get coaching

It is doubtful that cricket will ever replace football and basketball in the hearts of the Belizean sporting public, but the game that rules much of the English speaking Caribbean is experiencing something of a revival in Belize. Today, cricket is being played throughout the Belize District at fourteen primary and secondary schools. Recently the British High Commission donated cricket gears and manuals to the school teams to improve their skills. And in the past two weeks, the players have been receiving training from international cricket coach, Rupert Gomes. President of the Belize National Cricket Association, Elston Wade, says the International Cricketing Council has been impressed with the local talent and is assisting the association to select under fifteen, under eighteen and senior teams to represent Belize in international matches like the Americas’ Cup which is played every two years.

Elston Wade, President, Bz. National Cricket Association

“These players are being selected from throughout Belize. Whoever is interested, can partake in it. And we must say that we have seen a lot of talent and the coach is very, very pleased with what he has seen so far.”

Rupert Gomes, International Coach, I.C.C.

“My mission here is to make assessments of the level of cricket, what is needed to develop cricket here and also the coach. And then to make recommendations to the I.C.C. and to have a follow up.”

Jacqueline Woods

“From what you’ve seen so far, where do we stand?”

Rupert Gomes

“I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen, because Belize is blessed with good weather first of all, and the natural talent of the people here in sports, that stands out. I don’t think that I need to mention that they’re very talented naturally. So we need to harness that talent and teach them the disciplines of cricket.”

This afternoon, Gomes met with teachers to give them some tips on the game, which they will hopefully pass on to their students.