12 junior schools for Falcon College cricket festival

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
UP and coming talent will be on display during the annual Falcon College Junior Schools Cricket Festival in Esigodini on Friday and Saturday.

A 10-overs-per-side competition, the festival involves 12 schools drawn from all over the country. These are Ruzawi, Petra, Hartman House, Springvale, Whitestone, Lilfordia, Barwick, Murray MacDougall, Bryden, Saint John’s Preparatory, Carmel and Victoria Falls Primary.

Richard Harrison, the master in charge of cricket at Falcon College said the tournament was initiated by the headmaster, Reginald Querl with the idea to introduce youngsters to life at the private school. In the past, schools from Botswana and Zambia have taken part in the festival.

“The Falcon College Primary Schools Cricket Festival was started in 2005. It was the brainchild of the headmaster, Reg Querl, to introduce primary school children to life at Falcon College through a weekend of competitive sport and involvement in other college activities such as sleeping in dormitories, eating in the dining hall and interacting with Falcon pupils. Schools from all over Zimbabwe and even from Zambia and Botswana participate. The cricket is arranged to pit schools against other schools they wouldn’t normally encounter. It also aims to create maximum participation so that all players would bat and bowl in each match,’’ said Harrison.

According to the fixtures, 24 matches will take place on Friday afternoon and then six on Saturday morning before the fixtures head to the play-offs and eventually the final. For years, Ruzawi from Marondera have dominated the festival and have won it more than any other school. Last year, Ruzawi defeated St John’s Preparatory in the final which headed into the super over. He expressed gratefulness to some of their sponsors and contributors such as Fazak, Dairibord and Introwise who have supported the successful holding of the festival every year.