WICDA breaks ground on Denbigh training facility

THE WEST Indies Cricket Development Academy Limited (WICDA) and its main partner, the Cricket Hall of Fame, broke ground on a training infrastructure project at Denbigh High School last week.

The project aims to build two concrete pitches with fencing around them for the safety and benefit of future cricketers.

Present at the ground-breaking ceremony were Denbigh High School principal, Annette Daley, head of the Cricket Hall of Fame, Michael Chambers, and Junior Codlin, president of of the WICDA.

“I’m thrilled to see the training infrastructure starting to become a reality,” said Daley.

Chambers mimicked the principal’s sentiments, adding: “This partnership with WICDA is a significant step forward for cricket development in Jamaica.”

Codlin called the project start, “a dream come true for our academy”.

“We’re excited to provide a world-class facility for young cricketers,” he said.

The WICDA, started under the name The West Indies Cricket 2020 and Beyond, was launched in January of 2020, with a view to providing opportunities to aspiring young Caribbean cricketers.

The organisation tries to hold age-group tours of the Caribbean in an attempt to improve the experience of young cricketers.

The groundbreaking ceremony is the first tranche of the WICDA’s adoption of the Denbigh High School, announced in February.

Then, the WICDA had committed to providing the Denbigh team with access to its expert coaches, training facilities, and resources.

The academy had also committed to working with the school to develop a comprehensive cricket programme that includes training sessions, matches, and tournaments.

In addition to the technical aspects of the game, the WICDA was to also introduce mind-power training for the players and their parents.

That training is to focus on the holistic development of the player, including their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

“Our goal is to provide the players with the necessary skills, training, and support to excel in the sport and make their school and community proud,” Codlin had said at the time.