Saturday, November 7, 2009

    Chris Gayle (white cap)  poses with members of the Excelsior cricket team and school officials including Principal Deanroy Bromfield (second right) Vice Principal Michael Lewis (r.) Senior Vice Principal Allison Peart and Sports Master Xavier Gilbert at the recent presentation of sports equipment to the school. 

Excelsior was among 16 schools to benefit when alumnus Christopher Gayle(’99),  this week presented over J$500,000.00 in sporting equipment to  schools  across Jamaica  from funds raised from the two recently held 15/15 cricket tournaments in St. .Ann and St. Elizabeth, respectively.

Gayle, the recently re-appointed West Indies cricket captain, who will lead the regional side for the three-Test tour of Australia this month, said he was happy to have been a part of the effort.

"I am very happy that we embarked on this initiative to donate this equipment to the 16 schools across the island. No doubt that having the right equipment will help unearth talented sports men and women that are in these schools and bring out the aspiring cricketers, netballers or footballers to sustain these games in Jamaica," said the Excelsorian.

Throughout this week, Gayle travelled across the island handing over computers, football gear, cricket pads, bats and netball gear to a total of 16 primary and High schools, including his alma maters, Excelsior High School and Rollington Town Primary in Kingston.

The 15/15 cricket tournament was a huge success and featured past and present star cricketers from across the Caribbean region. Among them were fellow Excelsior alumnus and a predecessor as West Indies captain, Courtney Walsh(’81), Curtly Ambrose and Richie Richardson, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor.

"The entire day was a huge success and I also have to thank my fellow cricketers and Usain Bolt for joining in on this initiative to connect with local communities and raise funds to support this donation to the schools," said Gayle.