Barataria Ball Players (BBP) Sports and Cultural Club will celebrate their 50-year anniversary with a week-long host of activities beginning Tuesday (February 6) and ending on February 13 (Carnival Tuesday).
A highlight of the activities to be hosted by the club's alumni which includes former national football players Marvin Faustin, Maurice Alibey, and Dennis Lawrence, all under the guidance of coach Everald "Gally" Cummings, will be a five-team football fiesta at the Barataria Cricket Oval, Sixth Avenue, Barataria on Wednesday (February 7) from 4 pm.
In addition, Arnold Dwarika, Curtis Celestine, Aurtis Whitley, Brian James, Garfield De Silva, Ronnie Charles, Colin Rocke, Anthony Del Peche, Ross Russell and Wayne Alfred are among past players for Barataria Ball Players to have don the national senior team colours while Justin Latapy, Leslie Russell Jr, Anthony Marshall, Devon Caseman, Keith Serrette, Brian Noray, Marlon Thomas, Sterling Figaro, Gregory Toussaint, Brian Griffith, Gerrard Mc Cloud and Sherwyn Besson did likewise at the national youth level.
The tournament will feature Canada-based teams, Just Sweat (Montreal), and Foot Mixers (Toronto/USA) the latter of which is managed by the tournament's founder Nicholas Hernandez, and the local trio of Masters, Challengers, and Barataria Ball Players.
According to Ronald Greenidge, a past player at BBP who went on to represent Canada at the national youth (Under-17) cricket level the week of activities will be opened to all those who have been affiliated to the club past and present as well as the general public.
Greenidge was also quick to point out that Barataria Ball Players Sports and Cultural Club which was founded back in 1973 by a group of friends inclusive of Lennox Toussaint, Noble Kissoon, Fred "Mighty Composer" Mitchell, Dunmore Burke, Hamilton John, and Basil "Barney" Smith, the first coach of the football team, Christopher Auguste, Earl Cunningham and Edward George to compete in both the Glaverston Football League and Aranguez Football League, before venturing into the East Zone competition.
Not only did the club compete with much success as a football outfit but also participated in netball, basketball and zonal cricket, emerging as North Zone Cricket Council champions in the latter within recent years.
Greenidge was also full of praise for Thomas who he said dedicated his life to the upkeep of the player cricket field and helped mould the the cricket part of the club to what it is today.
Up to today, the club remains one of the only surviving clubs among community-based organisations throughout T&T, and more importantly, is the only organisation in the Barataria/San-Juan/Laventille and environs which participates in both cricket and football at a national level.
Among the club's achievements is its participation in National Football and Zonal competitions for over 42 years, with the highlight being runners-up in the National Football League’s Division FA Cup final in 1981.
The club has participated in National and Zonal cricket competitions since 1978, and currently campaigns in the National Cricket Championship Division and has also participated in National Basketball North Zone competitions, in addition to establishing an Industrial Football League in the Barataria community.
Entertaining will be provided by VIBE City 105 Radio disc jockey, Sensational Sammy, himself a former player at Malick Secondary, while food will also be provided for sale by Sensational Sammy Seafood Plus, and Ma'Sons Delights.
SOURCE: T&T Guardian