EDUCATION, SPORTS, GENDER & YOUTH AFFAIRS

The former West Indies fast bowler turned coach is very passionate about grassroots cricket and feels that his event will be an opportunity for interested and dedicated persons to become involved: “I have always looked for ways to enhance grassroots cricket and this event combines both the practical and fun elements that I hope will get people involved in their local, school and youth cricket team.”

The two-day event will include a series of 45-minute Taster Workshops in the following disciplines: Umpire; Scorer; Coach; Match Referee and Event Manager. Benjamin believes that getting people involved in the administration of the sport will create much needed human resources: “Too often clubs are suffering from lack of man-power and often depend on one or two people to do the main body of work. However, if our sport is to continue to produce first class players we need to develop support mechanisms such as coaches.
Anyone can become a coach, they do not have to have a cricket background, and all they need is desire and a level of patience, especially with kids. These workshops will give the public an opportunity to see how they can become involved in practical and tangible ways.”
The 45-minute Taster Workshops will be free to all participants and participants will receive a certificate. All the facilitators have already been identified and are from the local cricket fraternity: “They are all keen to share their knowledge and experience,” adds Benjamin.

The Kenny Benjamin Community Cricket Festival is supported by SEMP (Sports Event Management and Promotion), in association with event management and communications specialists Lucia Mings and Brenda Lee Browne.