Cricketers' well-being is important

POWERGEN says the safety and the well-being of the country’s Secondary School cricketers is of paramount importance to the company.

The PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League (SSCL) Intercol T20 competition would have been now in the closing stages, but the covid19 pandemic has caused a delay to all sporting activities locally.

Corporate communications officer at PowerGen, Francois Ottley, said, “The effects of covid19 have seen our daily lives altered to the ‘new normal’ which we have now been called upon to adopt, all in an effort to flatten the curve and combat the spread of covid19.”

Ottley said immediately after covid19 started to impact TT, PowerGen has been communicating with the league.

“Since March 2020, PowerGen as sponsor, has had discussions with the SSCL on the plans to respond to the national covid19 measures. We are aware that the SSCL with guidance and direction from the Government via the Ministry of Education, gave a directive to suspend the league and we are in full agreement with this decision.”

Ottley said the cricketers' well-being is most important during this time. “We have stood shoulder to shoulder with the league as sponsor for the past 24 years and our primary concern is the health and safety of the students and stakeholders of the league. Though we may be in uncertain times, what remains certain is that PowerGen will continue to support the SSCL through any emergent reality to which we may all have to collectively adjust.”

Ottley also said that the company is working on initiatives to provide support to medical front line staff and needy communities.

A release from the SSCL reiterated that communication is key during the virus.

“The SSCL is in continuous communication with our sponsors as per the future of our cricket competitions and programmes. They are fully supportive that nothing can happen until the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education gives clearance and it’s totally safe for any activity to restart.”

The pandemic is also impacting Flow-sponsored cricket tournaments.

The SSCL urges everyone to unite during this time. “The SSCL has encouraged its members to reach out and assist our students, many of whose parents are struggling at this time. The SSCL, since 2017, started a programme of free lessons in Mathematics and English for CSEC cricketers. This was temporarily halted by covid19, however we will be resuming the programme online from May 1. We are also assessing other subject areas for inclusion.”

The SSCL encourages its players to stay home, maintain proper hygiene and practise social distancing.