…company hailed as Club’s foundation of success
”Bakewell is the second longest of our sponsors after Farfan and Mendes Ltd and is, without doubt, one of the main reasons why the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS, is the success it is today. The club and Bakewell are the products of sheer hard work, discipline, and visionary leadership.”
Those were the words of RHTY&SC Cricket Manager Robby Kissoonlall on Wednesday last when long-serving sponsor Bakewell renewed sponsorship of the club for the 26th consecutive year.
Kissoonlall stated that the popular bakery has been sponsoring the club’s Under-17 and Second-Division teams since 2000. Bakewell became the second official sponsor of the RHTY&SC, joining Farfan and Mendes Ltd, after a visit to the club by its founder, Naeem Nasir, and General Manager Rajendra Ganga.
The sponsorship started with the Second-Division team and later expanded to the Under-17 team. The two teams have won a combined 26 titles and reached close to 20 semifinals over the years. Kissoonlall spoke on the importance of the Bakewell sponsorship as it allows the players to play the game of cricket without worrying about the expenses associated with it. Club Secretary Hilbert Foster noted that membership of the club is totally free and the club stands all expenses of playing the game.
The former President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and former Director of Cricket West Indies (CWI) stated that the teams have, over the years, produced three Test cricketers, 10 international players, and 130 Berbice players. The only Berbice players produced by the RHTY&SC that have no connection to the Bakewell sponsorship are Ingram Dey and Neil Williams.
Some of the players who played with the Bakewell teams are Kevin Sinclair, Esaun Crandon, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Kelvon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano, Jonathan Rampersaud, Dominique Rikhi, Akshay Homraj, Delbert Hicks, Jeremy Sandia, Matthew Pottaya, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Sylus Tyndall, Shenetta Grimmond, Erva Giddings, and Shabika Gajnabi.
Foster spoke highly of the role that the Bakewell sponsorship played in the careers of Test players Anderson, Fudadin, and Sinclair. He recalled also that Rikhi and Homraj, former players of the Under-17 and Second-Division teams, have gone on to play international cricket for the United States of America.
The 2026 Under-17 team would be led by national player Leon Reddi, with fellow national player Jayden Ganpat as his deputy. The Second-Division team would be led by veteran left-handed batsman Ryan Kissoonlall and he would be assisted by Vice Captain Jonathan Rampersaud. The management team for both teams would be Robby Kissoonlall, Keith Hicks, and Tyrone Pottaya.
The two teams under the sponsorship would undertake about 50 community-related programmes and projects during the year. These programmes would be held under a variety of sub-headings including sports, culture, education, charity, environment, community development, and youth development. Among the main activities to be hosted by the Bakewell teams in 2026 are Tribute to Teachers, Tribute to Students, Cricket Academy, Republic Bank Grade 6 Summer Camp, Basil Butcher Trust Fund, Annual Youth Magazine, Naeem Nasir Memorial Tournament, feeding programmes, and the annual Christmas Village.
Bakewell General Manager Ganga was loud in praise for the remarkable work of the Bakewell teams over the last 25 years. He noted that the company was pleased to be associated with such a dynamic organisation, and was very pleased with the club’s ability to produce outstanding players. He urged the management of the club to uphold the high standards it has set. Apart from the sponsorship of the two cricket teams, Bakewell co-sponsors the RHTY&SC annual magazine, Cricket Academy, and the annual Christmas Village.
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