A bigger and better PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League (SSCL) is expected this year when the season begins on Thursday with a Super Sixes tournament.
Players will be able to test their fitness in the five-over Super Sixes tournament played at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain Recreation Ground and Gilbert Park simultaneously. Following the one day Super Sixes tournament, teams will compete in the 50-over league and the Intercol T20 competition.
Yesterday at a press conference held at Valpark Chinese Restaurant to outline the 2014 season, president of the SSCL Surujdath Mahabir, was happy to have PowerGen on board for another season.
He said: "This is the 18th year that PowerGen is sponsoring secondary schools (cricket), and to have a company giving that type of commitment to any organisation in T&T is great and we can never stop thanking PowerGen for what they are doing for secondary schools cricket."
The president stated that cricket does a lot for a child's overall development and therefore encourages participation. "We (SSCL) are more about the holistic development of the child, we believe that children must play and this must be part of the educational process, we understand passing exams is priority, but you need children to be involved in curricular activities."
Mahabir went on to mention the improvements made for this season. One aim is to double the number of students participating. Mahabir and his team plan to accomplish this by fostering closer relationships with school administration by visiting schools.
They are hoping to re-introduce girls Under-15 and boys form one coaching and competition, introduce a girls open division zonal cork ball competition and revive the North-South cricket classic with U-14 and U-16 matches.
The president said that students who are not interested in playing can also participate. "We need people in schools who are not playing to get involved in the game with scoring and umpiring, so the students need to learn the laws of the game."
On Tuesday, the SSCL will host a workshop for students and coaches in scoring and umpiring. He said scoring and umpiring is an option for a career in T&T.
Adding to the holistic development of the child, the league will have a journalism competition. Any student can submit a report of a SSCL match via a teacher, and at the end of the season the top three reports will receive prizes. Students can contact their teachers for more details.
Francois Ottley, representing PowerGen at the press conference, signed the sponsorship agreement to solidify the 18-year partnership, as well as the continued sponsorship for the 2014 season.
Ottley was impressed with the strategic plan of Mahabir and his staff to develop secondary schools cricket in T&T.