Final ‘Coca-Cola’ Cricket Pathway camp of 2010 takes place in Colombo

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited (CCBSL) conducted the final ‘Cricket Pathway’ camp of 2010 at Moors Grounds, Colombo. The ‘Coca-Cola’ Cricket Pathway is a series of camps organized by the company in conjunction with the Aravinda de Silva Cricket Foundation and Sri Lanka Cricket. The aim of the camps, are to discover hidden cricketing talent among the youth of Sri Lanka’s rural and regional areas.

The opening ceremony of the three day long camp commenced on Friday 13th at 2:30 pm. Present were 80 participants from schools across the districts of Matale, Kegalle, Kandy, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, Kalutara. Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Also in attendance were Sri Lanka Cricket national, provincial and district coaches, along with Manish Chaturvedi, Country Manager, Sri Lanka & Maldives, Coca-Cola Far East Limited and cricketing legend, Aravinda de Silva. 

This camp marked the fifth and final Cricket Pathway camp of the year. Participants were competing to be selected for the Cricket Pathway Super Camp; an occasion that brings together the ten best cricketers from each previous camp of 2010. The three best players of the Camp will then be selected to win Rs. 20,000 worth of cricketing equipment, sponsored by Coca-Cola. All participants were lodged at Sugathadasa Sports Hotel and Hector Kobbekaduwa Institute for the duration of the camp. Following the opening ceremony, participants completed a fitness test and followed a presentation on cricketing techniques. Day 2 of the camp involved participants engaging in training the entire day. Each participant’s unique skills were identified and monitored to ensure the appropriate guidance and training was provided. The final day of the camp included a specialized training session from which the 10 best players were selected and rewarded. 

Coca-Cola’s Cricket Pathway Camp has seen years of continued success following its inception in 2008. Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the Aravinda de Silva foundation as well as Sri Lanka Cricket. The collaboration has seen the programme tap into an abundance of potential and talent in young Sri Lankan cricketers. As a result of the rigorous training received by veterans of the game, such as Aravinda de Silva and other prominent coaching figures, camp participants are exposed to a productive and competitive cricketing experience that enables them to develop their skills and expertise whilst realizing their own potential. The pathway has also seen a number of participants moving forward to join the National Under 19 Team. The team in 2010 consisted of 9 participants of the Coca-Cola Cricket Pathway with its Captain Bhanuka Rajapakse also being amongst the top 10 during his Cricket Pathway training programme.  

Manish Chaturvedi, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Far East Limited, stated the following: ‘The Cricket Pathway camps are part of Coca-Cola’s efforts to promote cricket in Sri Lankan youth at a grass roots level. This initiative is a commitment from us, to help build up and nurture the next generation of Sri Lankan cricketers. The camps provide an educative and intense learning experience for all participants that helps them hone their natural cricketing skills and further develop themselves as Sri Lanka’s future cricketers. Camp participants hail from all corners of Sri Lanka, bringing to the camps a varied and impressive talent pool. For their valued support, Coca-Cola would like to extend our thanks to the Aravinda de Silva foundation, all coaches who contributed to camp training sessions and Sri Lanka Cricket. It is our hope that this initiative continues to achieve success and tap into Sri Lanka’s pool of young talent, bringing more opportunities to more young Sri Lanka’s all across the country’.