Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CRICKET Ekhaya-Ekasi has embarked on a mass drive to popularise the sport in different parts of the country ahead of two cricket World Cups that Zimbabwe will co-host.
The country will co-host the ICC U-19 World Cup with Namibia before the ICC Men’s ODI WC with Namibia and South Africa in 2027.
“Zimbabwe Cricket, they are building a multi-million-dollar cricket stadium in Victoria Falls, and yet there is no cricket in Victoria Falls,” said Dumisani Mankunzini from Cricket Ekhaya-Ekasi.
He was speaking at the unveiling ceremony of a technical partnership with a sportswear company.
“It is going to be embarrassing to have a cricket stadium and you don’t have cricket players, you don’t have cricket coaches, and no cricket administrators from Victoria Falls, and it’s not only Victoria Falls, but many places and many corners around Zimbabwe.
“Cricket Ekaya-Ekasi is about going to the far corners of Zimbabwe, introducing cricket where there is no cricket at all, where there is zero cricket.
“We are going mostly to the rural areas and schools where they don’t play cricket, our target is not only to coach cricketers but also to produce world-class cricket administrators and cricket coaches,” said Mankunzini.
He said the technical partnership with Looks Sportswear is part of the initiative to spread the sport to the different parts of the country.
“Every child must have a fair share to play cricket; every child must be able to hold a cricket ball and a cricket bat.
“Just like we see in football, every child, they can at least kick a football as Cricket Ekhaya-Ekasi, we want to spread the game of cricket to the far corners of Zimbabwe.
“I am very happy that Looks Sportswear have come on board to partner with us on a five-year deal to partner in this development,” he said.
The company, Looks Sportswear, has been making inroads in the market, dealing with various clubs.
Chief executive officer Peter Chiveso described the partnership with Cricket Ekhaya-Ekasi as key.
“We are now moving into cricket, we are moving into basketball, and we are launching volleyball and tennis. So, we are widening our range in terms of supply.
“What’s very exciting about partnering with Cricket Ekaya-Ekasi is actually the concept of their programme in which they are to disadvantaged communities and we like that concept.
“We want to partner with progressive organisations that are looking into developing sport,” said Chiveso.
