by EZRA STUART

WEST INDIES cricket legends Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weekes will be part of an expanded 2006 coaching and training programme of the Joseph "Reds" Perreira Sports Foundation in Guyana.

Cricket commentator Perreira, who established the foundation last year, told NATIONSPORT that a number of Barbadian sports personalities have been identified as resource people for the many events planned.

Some of the areas identified for coaching assistance are cricket, netball, training of jockeys, training of volleyball and hockey officials, basketball, tennis, women's field competitors in athletics and pitch preparation.

"We are working in partnership with associations in Guyana, mainly creating events that they have identified where training and coaching can be done," Perreira said.

Perreira said the highlight of the 2006 programme will be the presence of Sir Clyde and Sir Everton, who have been invited for the opening day of the Zimbabwe versus West Indies Test match at Bourda on April 20 as special guests.

"We want to have an evening of nostalgia with the two great West Indians, not looking at cricket today in the Caribbean, but drawing on their experiences from way back in 1948 and the early 1950s," Perreira said.

Perreira said there would be a number of clinics by cricketers with Lance Gibbs working with off-spin bowlers, Gordon Greenidge with batsmen, George Linton with leg-spinners and Ezra Moseley with fast bowlers.

There will also be a leadership and captaincy workshop for club captains in Guyana as well as training workshops for public relations officers and treasurers of national associations.

Perreira also said there were plans to invite a player from the National Basketball Association (NBA) to work with the Guyanese Under-19 basketballers.

He also noted that Barbadian athletics coach Jennifer Swanston-Jones would be in Guyana for two weeks.

"She will work in a track and field focus on women in Guyana, trying to boost the track and field skill and improve standards among young women, particularly in the field events.

"We are looking at the possibility of the netball coach (Sonia Banfield) and tennis coach Sydney Lopez coming back while we have invited Richard Edwards to do a workshop on pitch preparation," added Perreira.

He also mentioned that either a Trinidadian or Barbadian umpire would be sought to "work towards uplifting the standard of hockey" while there was a need to upgrade the refereeing skills of volleyball referees.

"We are also looking at the training of jockeys in Guyana. Horse racing is extremely popular and we want to make sure that we work with the racing authorities to uplift the standard of the jockeys."

"But it is going to be an expanded programme, working with the Caribbean private sector, working with the national associations and working with the Caribbean airlines," Perreira added.

* ezrastuart@nationnews.com