By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Carioca Cricket Club (CCC) will host an intra-club match tomorrow, Saturday, October 7th, at the scenic grounds of the São Fernando Polo and Cricket Club, near Itaguaí about an hour south of Zona Sul (South Zone) in Rio.
As always lots of families and friends will come for the sport and recreation, and CCC organizes free transport to and from the grounds. There will be the usual post match churrasco (BBQ). The bus leaves Praça General Osorio in Ipanema at 7:45 AM sharp, and returns to Rio de Janeiro at 5:30 PM.
In addition to the inter-club match tomorrow, the latest news for the CCC was announcing their regular nets (training) on the Lagoa Baseball Diamond, which is scheduled for every other Sunday afternoon, between 3-5PM.
New CCC Captain Nick Ellerby shares, “Cricket training at the baseball diamond on the Lagoa every other Sunday (or “nets” as we cricketers like to call it) has proved very popular amongst members, being so convenient and in such a stunning location.”
Indeed the Lagoa in Rio’s Zona Sul (South Zone) offers stellar views of the lagoon and surrounding mountains, and is much more convenient to get to for regular practice. Ellerby adds, “We have also recruited several passers-by who did not know about the CCC before, so it’s good advertising for the sport and the club.”
Another development for the club is an increase in interest from female players. Ellerby confirms, “We now have eight ladies on our CCC Player list and hope to build this up quickly in the months ahead. Women’s cricket is very strong in Brazil, the National team is currently the South American Champions, and who knows one day we may be able to field a CCC Ladies Team to compete against other States.”
The CCC was founded in 2011, and as each year passes, the club goes from strength to strength. Cricket however has existed in Rio since the mid-1800s, when a substantial part of the city’s population was of British descent. Emperor Dom Pedro II opened Rio’s first official cricket pitch in 1860 on Rua Paysandu in Laranjeiras.
For more information on the CCC and the inter-club match happening tomorrow, visit the club’s Facebook page.
* This is a Sponsored article for the Carioca Cricket Club.