Members of the Sandals Jamaica Under-19 Cricket Academy donated a cache of cricket gear to Ocho Rios High School on behalf of Sandals Resorts International on Monday.

“We are overjoyed at this amazing gift,” beamed a proud Marvin Clowson, principal of the school, at the presentation ceremony.

“This is a great boost for our cricketing programme and we will ensure that the boys put them to good use,” he added.

The gear included bats, balls, gloves, pads, thigh pads, bags, and other cricketing accessories, which will be used in the upcoming Inter-school Under-14 competition, as well as by the school’s senior team.

Sandals regional public relations manager for Ocho Rios, Ian Spencer, said his company was pleased to make the donation to the school with which they share an ongoing relationship on many levels.

“Sports is a very important part of our community outreach programme, and cricket is one of its centrepieces. As you are aware, we are sponsors of the senior West Indies team as well as the Jamaican Under-19 competition and the Sandals Under-19 cricket Academy,” said the Sandals official.

Spencer pointed out that cricket, often referred to as “the gentleman’s game”, is one of the sports that helps with character building and discipline, and as such would assist the youngsters not just in sports, but in their every day lives.

Reando Kelly, a member of the Ocho Rios High School cricket team, was all smiles as he examined the cricket bats. “Man, I can’t wait to start hitting some balls,” he declared.

“Thanks so much for the gift, and I will try and make a hundred in the competition which starts later this week,” added Kelly.

The 24-member Sandals Cricket Academy was led by the talented Raewin Senior, who observed that he and other members of the squad were happy to be a part of the effort to give back to the community.

“We are excited to be a part of this venture, which will help to grow the sport in the rural areas,” Senior noted.