Saturday, February 4 2012

CAMAL BASDEO, Chief Executive Officer of Clico Preysal, is still optimistic his team can make it to the quarter-final stage of the Sunday League despite a disappointing start.

Preysal will face Alescon Comets today in a crucial match which Basdeo feels will be key to their chances of staying alive in this competition.

Preysal’s opening match against Seenath’s Auto Bamboo was abandoned with both clubs sharing the points while they lost their second fixture against TTEC by eight wickets.

The results see them just one place above the foot of the seven-team table in Group ‘B’ with just one point.

But with three matches still remaining including games against Alescon Comets (home) and Merry Boys (away) this weekend, Basdeo remains confident his team can recover.

“Yes, we have a good chance to qualify. We play against Comets which we feel we can win. We made a small score against TTEC but they were at full strength (with their national players). They will be depleted this weekend so if they lose then the group will be wide open,” he pointed out.

Basdeo noted that his team will also have to deal with the absence of crucial players at various points of the season.

“Our captain Yannick (Ottley) is with the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in Barbados right now so we have to wait and see if he will be with us or not. We’re losing (Yannic) Cariah (to the national team) and might even lose Stephen Katwaroo too when Denesh Ramdin goes to the West Indies team because Katwaroo is the number two choice wicketkeeper,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Preysal are not using any foreign players for this competition and are utilising their young players with the hope of giving them the necessary exposure.

“Our team is a very young one. We have no overseas players right now. We are in negotiations (for players) but that will be for the two-day competition. Preysal thrive on developing youngsters and we just want to continue working with them. We have seven or eight young guys who make up the nucleus of the team. Young Strassark Sankar is our main strike bowler and we depend on him heavily to get wickets. Pacer Akido Joseph is also showing promise and we have given him the opportunity to open with Sankar,” Basdeo added.

Reflecting on the defeat to TTEC, Basdeo identified the positive batting of openers Stephen Katwaroo (56) and Andy Gobin (19) as something to build on.

“It was a good choice asking Katwaroo to open. At the end of the day, the middle order failed us but it was a decent effort for the first match of the season,” he declared.

Also today, the winless Esmeralda look to revive their campaign in Group ‘A’ with a match against PowerGen.

At Wilson Road in Penal, First Citizens Clarke Road United face off against SIS Central Sports in a battle between third and fourth place. Group ‘A’ leader Queen’s Park take on Wanderers in the other match.

At Honeymoon Park in Tunapuna, Moosai’s host Seenath’s Auto Bamboo while Ceramic Merry Boys visit Group ‘B’ champ TTEC.

Tomorrow, Central Sports visit the Queen’s Park Oval to battle the Parkites. Wanderers host Esmeralda while PowerGen take on First Citizens Clarke Road United. Meanwhile, Seenath’s Auto Bamboo welcome the visiting TTEC while Alescon Comets play Moosai’s.

At St Mary’s Grounds, Ceramic Merry Boys host Clico Preysal.