Female teachers and pupils from eight selected secondary schools in the Greater Banjul Area have recently concluded a two-day training course on basic skills in the trade of cricket.

Ndow’s Comprehensive, SOS Bakoteh, St. Thereses Upper Basic, Muslim Senior Secondary School, Latrikunda Upper Basic, Gambia Senior Secondary School, J.C Faye, St. Augustine’s Upper Basic School and St. Joseph’s Basic Cycle each presented twelve students and a Physical Education teacher to participate in the course that was sponsored by the International Cricket Council, in collaboration with The Gambia Cricket Council.

Three main areas in the game-fielding, bowling, batting were treated during the gathering at the July 22 Square in Banjul.

Speaking at the gathering, Director of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sait Mbye, said such a training package at the school level will go a long way towards revitalising the game of cricket in the country.

He hailed national cricket governing body for their foresight and then urged the participants to effectively pass on the information gathered to their colleagues.

Director Mbye, however, expressed his disappointment at what he described as a low turn-out of female teachers against the large response from the pupils.

Mr. Sonny Manly-Rollings, President of The Gambia Cricket Association, said the training package was aimed at taking the game of cricket to the doorsteps of the schools where youngsters exist. He said the cricket association will always strive for the development and promotion of the game using the schools as a primary medium.

In a separate development, Mr. Nicola Chery, a national cricket player, left Banjul on Saturday to attend a four-day all-rounder-academy-coaching course in Abuja, Nigeria.

 Chery is the forth Gambian player to benefit from such a training programme. Players who earlier benefited from the training included Moses Bahoum, George Greywoode and Mbye Dumbuya .