|
Zim Cricket hails U19 tournament organisers |
|
ZIMBABWE Cricket hailed the Mashonaland West and Midlands community for resuscitating junior level cricket despite the economic challenges hindering the growth and expansion of the game in the country.
ZC’s head of training and development, Titus Zvomuya, saluted national team player, Edward Rainsford, and the Kadoma community, for their development initiatives.
At an Under-19 Sixers Bash tournament, organised by MidWest Rhinos administrators and players, Zvomuya said the cricket governing board remained committed to spreading the game to every corner of the country.
Rainsford sponsored the Kadoma tournament in which the home side, Jameson High School, lifted the inaugural shield on Wednesday after beating St Francis High School from Chegutu by 28 runs in the final.
“There has been a 500% increase in player participation at junior levels over the last decade.
“We would like to commend Edward Rainsford and the team from the MidWest Rhinos for their bold and successful initiative.
“We have more schools playing cricket now and we need more tournaments like this.
“There is greater participation by schools in high density and more are coming on board, this in turn has resulted in more students forming part of our future player base.
“The only challenge is the use of facilities, since most schools don’t have good facilities and the nearest could be a distance away.
“Players need to have facilities close by if they want to develop better,” said Zvomuya.
On a ratio-based comparative scale, in which the percentage of a country’s cricket expansion is weighed against its population, ZC has done more to spread cricket to disadvantaged areas compared to neighbouring South Africa and other African countries.
Unfortunately for the cricket body, some of the credit they should be getting for doing so much for development is overshadowed by the national team’s persistent failure on the big stage.
The national Under-19 team has in the past five years struggled to be as competitive, in not successful, as the emerging Proteas.
This is largely attributed to the differences in the amount of cricket each player is expected to play in a year as well the level of cricket one is exposed to.
South Africans are more exposed to competitive first-class and A-List leagues while Zimbabweans are only exposed to school leagues.
Rainsford’s initiative will help the young players as they approach the bridge between schoolboy cricket and the professional world.
Zvomuya also welcomed the support given by Elton Chigumbura and Hamilton Masakadza who came in support of the cause.
He also mentioned the need to continue the national selection process from grassroots level.
National development coach and former Zimbabwe national team bowler, David Mutendera, volunteered his coaching and officiating services during the tournament.
He is already on the lookout for potential candidates for national age group teams across all five franchises.
Zvomuya said ZC were facing financial challenges but there was a will, within the organisation, to ride the storm.
“We are facing financial challenges and, like any institution in Zimbabwe, we are not immune to economic hardships.
“The new strategy is to work hand in glove with communities so that there is a community ownership of the programme.
“Kadoma Sports Club is a good example of a place resuscitated by its own (people).”
|
Archived Articles
