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Sports Correspondent
THE architect of the “My Vision, My Dream” initiative has announced a novel grassroots development programme aimed at producing cricket stars to restore Zimbabwe’s past cricketing glory. Joseph Rego, chief executive officer and executive director of the Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy, launched the grassroots development for age groups at the academy yesterday before a gathering of parents.
The programme starts tomorrow.
The cricket development genius, said cricket revival in Zimbabwe hinges on how much emphasis is placed on development at the grassroots level.
“Any return to the pinnacle would have to involve a renewed emphasis on coaching through various age groups. What’s important for me is what we produce at home; what we do at the grassroots level and what systems are in place,” said Rego.
“We look at how well we coach our players and youngsters and how well we develop our facilities. These are the things for me that would make a difference and things we need to focus on at this point,” he said.
The academy has split its talented products into four age groups, Under-8s, Colts, Under-14s and Under-16s, and has appointed former Zimbabwe ‘A’ team cricketer Mbekezeli Mabuza as their coach to provide leadership, direction and quality programmes that will result in the development of the game at the grassroots level.
Rego hailed the academy’s chief administrator Samu Nkiwane for coming up with the idea.
“This structured and systematic way of targeting development will help streamline our reservoir of talented players for upward mobility as it relates to national and regional players’ commitment and requirements at both the youth and senior levels.
“A coaching education approach that targets individuals, both males and females, eight to 16 years of age, who are seriously interested in cricket that takes the targeted players through a set of disciplinary, dietary, mental and psychological, technical and physical fitness activities geared towards enhancing their technical skills level, is what we’re up to.”
He said in academies across India, training and games go side-by-side and the more games children get to play, the more they develop their skills and technique.
“This is what we need to do here. Games should be played on a daily basis as it stimulates and keeps the interest of cricket in the hearts of targeted youths. We need to expose our cricketers with interest, knowledge and methodologies that can be utilised to develop a high level of professionalism. It must be noted that this goal of professionalism does not only relate to cricket, since the demands and commitments that are required from players are very likely to impact in other areas of their lives,” Rego said.
He urged cricket enthusiasts to enrol for the programmes by contacting the academy.
Online Reporter