Cricket clinic fostering young female talent of Trinidad and Tobago

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Central Sports, the 2023 Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board T20 Festival champions, are hoping to produce the next generation of women cricketers, according to Cricket360.

And the unlikely star of the initiative is a Venezuelan emigrant girl who has impressed everyone who has seen her prodigious skills. Her stage is the current Chaguanas West Cricket Coaching Clinic which got underway last Sunday and run for seven consecutive weekends.

According to the update by Cricket360, the venue is the Invaders Recreation Ground, Maha Sabha Street, Felicity, between 9 am and noon and for the second year is organised by the Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally and the Central Sports cricket club.

Among those who have watched Delia Espinoza is the club president and coach Richard Ramkissoon who has predicted a bright future for her in the game. “Delia looks to be a natural athlete and will play a great role alongside her colleagues in our thrust to compose a female team to play competitive cricket in the near future,” said Ramkissoon.

At the Chaguanas West clinic for youngsters between the age of seven and 17, the girls are being coached by a cadre of qualified women and Anil Lakhan, one of the most experienced youth development mentors.

Presently the women’s game is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Cricket Association, which has been on a drive to attract young girls to the game.

Ramkissoon believes that he can replicate the same success he has had in the top tier of the men’s club cricket with the girls currently in the clinic.

“Our aim is to motivate the young boys and girls who were really set back by the Covid-19 restrictions for two years, which was really a serious blow to their aspirations,” said Ramkissoon.

Together with Chaguanas West MP Rambally, he is pleased with the response of the young participants and the encouragement provided by the parents in the latest edition of the camp.

“The effort of Chaguanas West initiative will soon bear fruit with several cricketers breaking into the age group spotlight and going on to be excellent cricketers, healthy young people, and well-rounded individuals who will make a great contribution to their communities and the country,” said Ramkissoon, as per the update.

The Central Sports livewire also paid tribute to his team of coaches headed by former outstanding national allrounder Rayad Emrit, the National Under-17 team coach; top spinner Imran Khan, national players Kjorn Ottley; youth development coach Amin Forgenie, and young promising cricketers Kamil Pooran, and Christopher Ramsaran.