By Carl Lucktoss, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Cricket has come a long way in Rio de Janeiro since an enthusiastic conversation in Copacabana’s Pavão Azul bar in November 2011. At the Carioca Cricket Club’s debut at Brazil’s National Championships the team were runners up and the trophy followed at the next attempt, not forgetting a coaching session in Complexo Alemão with Prince Harry and an appearance teaching the Lado ao Lado soap opera boys on Globo TV.
Importantly, last year the club secured the services of a fazenda and polo club in Itaguai, 70km west of Zona Sul (South Zone), and has slowly been building its home ground, to the point that it hosted the National Championships in November last year and a series, involving both the Carioca Cricket Club and the Brazilian national side, against a touring team from Lloyd’s of London.
This week the club announced its first ever membership program, aimed at consolidating the work that has already been put in over the last eighteen months.
The club is also hoping to bring more attention to the game of “Taco”, a cross between cricket and baseball, has long been played on the city’s streets, and there has been interest from Cariocas as well as expatriates to play.
A event takes place at the Mango Tree Hostel, Rua Prudente de Moraes 594, Ipanema on Wednesday, March 13th and all are welcome to attend. The evening will be a chance for regulars to sign up for the year, but anybody interested in playing at any level is invited to come and meet the team and join.
A fixture list and club t-shirt are included in membership, with practice matches and beach cricket sessions already scheduled for March, April, May and June, before the first National Championship of 2013 takes place in Brasília in July.
For further information you can visit the club’s site, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
* The Rio Times Daily Updates feature is offered to help keep you up-to-date with important news as it happens.