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Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
BUDDING cricket enthusiasts in Rusape received a major boost following the opening of the state-of-the-art Vimal Devchards Memorial Ground at Highveld Primary School.
The ground will be used by Rusape Braves cricket team to host its home games and as a talent incubation centre for youngsters who want to play the gentlemen’s game.
Vimal “Globus” Devchards was a prominent businessman in Rusape who was callously murdered in 2021 by armed robbers who pumped five bullets into his chest at his home.
Speaking at the commissioning of the ground last week on Saturday, Rusape Town Council chairman, Lovemore Chifomboti, hailed the cricket community for taking the initiative to revive the game in the town and most importantly to construct infrastructure.
“We are glad that Rusape Braves have led an initiative to revive cricket in the town. The game had been long abandoned, but it is now slowly rising and in the near future we need to groom national team players here.
“In this tough environment, it is not easy to find dedicated individuals who commit their resources and time to fund sporting activities, but I am glad to discover that we still have such people in Rusape. The ground should continue to be improved and well maintained so that it benefits everyone,” said Chifomboti.
Rusape Braves captain, Rishi Solanky said they hope to turn their new ground into a fortress and a talent factory centre where international cricketers will be produced.
He added that they were forced to move away from their first choice, John Cowie Primary School after failing to get water.
“It is a momentous event to inaugurate this ground which symbolises the triumphs and tribulations of a community driven initiative. We have invested over US$3 000 to have this dream come true and it took a lot of dedication and teamwork to achieve this.
“This ground will provide the impetus to nurture and develop talent in a standard pitch. Schools and clubs are welcome to use this pitch because it is the only one in Makoni District. Grassroots development of sport in general and cricket in particular was lacking in the town due to non-availability of standard pitches which is now a thing of the past,” said Solanky.
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