The exciting Republic Bank ‘Five For Fun’ school cricket programme 2026 is set to take centre stage between June and October, with male and female students from a record 100 primary schools set to compete in the fourth annual tournament.
That number represents an increase from the 75 schools that participated in 2025, with learning institutions from Regions One and Nine added to the mix this year. They will join schools from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.
Currently, in-school training is ongoing as teachers and students prepare for the impending start of the competition in June.
When play gets underway, St. Lawrence Primary of Essequibo will look to successfully defend their title, having prevailed in the 2025 Festival Finals against fellow county champions Massiah Primary of Berbice and Supply Primary of Demerara.
The novelty tournament was officially launched on Thursday morning at the Everest Ground with officials from title sponsor Republic Bank, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Guyana Cricket Board and Cricket West Indies underscoring its significance in producing well-rounded students.
Delivering remarks at the media launch were HR Manager of Republic Bank Jonnis London, Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain, President of the Guyana Cricket Board and Cricket West Indies Director Bissoondyal Singh, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and ‘Five for Fun’ National Coordinator Reon King.
Also present were former Guyana and West Indies cricketer and now Chairman of the Senior National Selection Panel Ramnaresh Sarwan, Guyana and West Indies female cricketers Cherry-Ann Fraser and Mandy Mangru and leg-spinner Riyad Latif.
What they said
Jannis London, HR Manager, Republic Bank (Guyana): “At Republic Bank, we firmly believe that investing in our youth, is investing in the future of our nation. This programme, which is part of our ‘Power to Make a Difference’ social investment initiative, is not only about cricket but about keeping our children engaged, active and focused. It’s about exposing them to values like teamwork, discipline, confidence and even the possibility of pursuing cricket at a professional level.”
“This year even more schools are participating, and we expect even greater energy, excitement and maybe even a few future West Indies stars in the making. To the parents, teachers and coaches, your encouragement and support continue to nurture and shape well round young individuals.”
Reon King, National Coordinator, Five for Fun: “This year, ‘Five for Fun’ will expand from 75 to more than 100 primary schools in Guyana, reaching over 2,000 boys and girls. We will see the schools further sub divided into five zones in Berbice and Demerara and 10 zones in Essequibo. This year’s expansion supports the vision of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfan Ali to strengthen interest in cricket across hinterland communities.”
According to former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler, key elements of the vision include to broaden access to cricket and promote equitable opportunities for children in remote and hinterland communities; to support delivery through structured coaching, appropriate playing spaces, essential equipment, and regular competition and to strengthen school-based cricket to enable talent identification and a clearer pathway for promising young players to progress to regional and national development programme.”
Bissoondyal Singh, President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Director of Cricket West Indies: “This fast-paced and inclusive programme has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of youth cricket development. The Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket Programme continues to grow as a vital grassroots initiative, combining cricket development with life skills in a safe, engaging, and supportive environment where young boys and girls can learn, express themselves, thrive, and grow.
“This programme is not simply about competition. It is about inclusion, opportunity, participation, and development. It gives both boys and girls equal access to learn and enjoy the game, while developing qualities such as leadership, patience, teamwork, resilience, confidence, discipline, respect, and responsibility. These are not only sporting qualities; they are life qualities.”
Steve Ninvalle, Director of Sport (Guyana): “We have seen this tournament grow, moving from 75 to 100 schools, with the addition of Regions One and Nine. This fits into the ‘One Guyana’ initiative. A lot of time we think Region Four is Guyana, but with Regions One and Nine added it says that we’re spreading the wings and hopefully in the future this would cover the entire Guyana whereby we have all the regions in place.”
Saddam Hussain, Chief Education Officer (Guyana): “The Ministry of Education is very happy to be a part of this programme. We want to thank Republic Bank for investing in this. This has already gone a very far way (in helping to develop the students). Just to point out, 75 moving to 100 is absolutely fantastic. (But) for the sake of clarity, we have 475 primary schools in Guyana, so Republic Bank we’re looking for an even bigger expansion in 2027. We really want to thank you for this.”
Tournament format
- Berbice (Zones)– Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam, Canje and West Berbice
- Demerara (Zones)– Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara and Upper Demerara
- Essequibo (Zones)– East Bank Essequibo, Wakenaam Island, Leguan Island, North Essequibo Coast, South Essequibo Coast, Bartica, Mabaruma and Moruca (Region One) and Lethem and Central South (Region Nine)
Zonal Preliminary Matches: Within each zone, the primary schools will play a series of matches in a round-robin format.
Each school will play four matches within their respective zones, with a point-based system in effect for each match played.
Two points will be awarded for a win, one point awarded to each team for a tie or no-result, no points awarded for a loss.
The school team emerging with the most points from each zone will be deemed the zonal champion and will move into the ‘Five for Fun’ County Playoffs.
County Playoff Matches: Each zonal winner from the respective zones will play each other (four matches) with a point-based system in effect for each match played.
Two points will be awarded for a win, one point awarded to each team for a tie or no-result, no points awarded for a loss.
The school team emerging with the most points from each county will be deemed the ‘County Champion’ and will move into the Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ Festival Finals.
The Festival Finals will be hosted as a one-day event, where the three county champions will participate in a round-robin format to determine the ‘Country Champion.’
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