The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) officially launched its Primary Schools Cricket Programme 2026 on Friday 30 January at the VIP Lounge, Hasely Crawford Stadium, reinforcing a national commitment to structured sport development at the primary school level.
The five-month programme, implemented through SporTT’s Community Sports Department, will see 22 qualified cricket coaches deployed across 66 primary schools nationwide, with each coach assigned to three schools. The initiative introduces students to structured cricket coaching while fostering discipline, teamwork, confidence and healthy lifestyles through sport.
Providing the programme overview, Mrs. Lyndell Hoyte-Sanchez, Head of SporTT’s Community Sports Department, explained that the Primary Schools Cricket Programme is one of five components of SporTT’s wider Schools and Community Cricket Coaching Programme, designed to strengthen the pathway from school participation to higher levels of cricket development. “The programme is structured to ensure quality delivery, consistency, and meaningful engagement at the primary school level, while laying the groundwork for long-term athlete development,” Hoyte-Sanchez said.
Addressing the audience, Honourable Phillip Watts, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, emphasised the role of early sport participation in national development. “This programme is about more than cricket,” the Minister said. “It is about shaping character, building confidence and giving our young people the opportunity to grow through structured sport. When we invest in our children, we invest in the future of Trinidad and Tobago.”
In welcome remarks, Mr. Kester Lendor, Chairman of SporTT, highlighted the organisation’s mission “to develop sport through service and leadership,” noting that the programme reflects SporTT’s commitment to building sustainable sport pathways through schools and communities.
Remarks were also delivered by Mr. Altaf Baksh, First Vice President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, and Mr. Nicholas Pooran, Sport Ambassador, who encouraged students to embrace the opportunities provided through organised school sport, emphasising that early exposure and structured guidance are key to future success.
Representing participating schools, Mr. Nigel Mohammed, Principal of Balmain Presbyterian Primary School, and Ethan Tobais, a student participant, shared perspectives on the programme’s positive impact. Students from Diego Martin Boys’ RC, Diego Martin Government Primary, and La Horquetta South Primary School were also in attendance.
Mr. Inshan Mohammed, Curriculum Officer for Physical Education at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the value of structured sport programmes in supporting physical literacy, student engagement, and holistic development within the education system.
The launch brought together representatives from Government, the education and sport sectors, community partners, coaches, teachers and students, formally signalling the start of the 2026 programme rollout reinforcing SporTT’s commitment to structured, inclusive, and long-term cricket development across Trinidad and Tobago.
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