By Tony Becca, Senior Sport EditorTHE JAMAICA National Building Society's Primary and All-Age cricket competitions for 2003 were officially launched at Sabina Park yesterday and amid the many thanks to the sponsors by the Jamaica Cricket Association and the many congratulations to the association by the sponsors were some words of advice for young cricketers.
Speaking at a press conference held in the JCA's boardroom in the George Headley Stand, George Sterling, first vice-president of the JCA, and Earl Jarrett, general manager at JNBS, pleaded with the players to be loyal and to be disciplined.
"I have been asked many times what is the difference between cricket today and cricket yesterday," said Sterling who represented Melbourne and Jamaica Colts. "Well, the difference is this: there is no loyalty - no loyalty to the game, to the club or to the country.
"You should be inspired by the success of your predecessors and you should continue to make your schools, your families, your coaches and you communities proud - not only of your talent, but also of your discipline and your sportsmanship," said Jarrett.
According to Sterling, "there is now no love, no passionate love, for the game and the emphasis is on material things.
"In my book, cricket is still a game, and although there is now a professional side to it, pride in performance, large doses of loyalty, still mean something."
After talking about the lack of loyalty to the game, to club and to country, Sterling said that "it is difficult to understand how when presented with the opportunity to play for his country or to play something else, a player could opt for the something else."
The competitions which got under way on Wednesday, are in their 10th year, about 4,500 boys and girls from more than 300 schools around the island will be involved and about 720 matches will be played with the two finals set for Wednesday, July 2, at Melbourne Oval.
Unlike previous years when All Age schools outnumbered primary schools with an average of 12 All Age schools and 10 primary schools competing in each parish, there will be more primary schools than All Age schools this year.
According to Brian Breese - chief executive of the JCA and the man referred to as the godfather of the competitions because of his dedication and the part he has played in its success, the difference now is such that there will be 14 primary schools and eight All Age schools in some parishes.
