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Sports Reporter
BAINES Junior School-based Dumisani Mankunzini Cricket Initiative (DMCI) has been invited to Botswana for an invitational tournament in Gaborone this weekend.
The tour will include three age groups, the Under-9s, Under-11s and Under-13s. Each age group will have 12 players.
The DMCI teams leave tomorrow morning by road and will play two Twenty20 matches on Saturday and Sunday against Trymore Taruvinga’s Cubs Academy before returning home on Monday.
Taruvinga is a former Churchill High School cricketer who was part of the Zimbabwe national Under-19 cricket team in 2007.
Former Zimbabwe Under-19 and Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise cricketer Dumisani Mankunzini is the brains behind the DMCI.
He said the reciprocal trip is part of their grassroots development programmes aimed at exposing youngsters to competitive cricket.
“Remember we had the annual Junior Dumisani Mankunzini Winter Cricket Festival which Cubs participated in.
“They’re returning the favour and the good thing is that this tour is going to be an eye opener for the boys as they will be exposed to better facilities and good competition.
“It is important that as they develop in cricket, they get exposed to competitive games so that when it’s time to get into national teams they are not intimidated,” Mankunzini said.
Ndabenhle Moyo travels as the head of delegation, Mankunzini is technical director while Kundai Chimbaru is the teams’ technical analyst.
DMCI Squads to Botswana
Under-13: Takudzwa Takarusenga (captain, Milton High),Tendai Takavengwa (Milton Junior), Butjilo Ncube (Milton Junior), Munashe Gumbo (Henry Low), Tinashe Marawa (Henry Low), Jarod Grey (Henry Low), Libe Marupi (Mtshingwe), Stanslus Ngirasi (Mtshingwe), Thamsanqa Sithole (Baines), Sheppard Mushayakarara (Milton Junior), Remekedzai Tusai (St Thomas Aquinas), Denzel Chivero (St Thomas Aquinas)
Technical: Mbongeni Ndebele (coach), Agrippa Takarusenga (manager)
Under-11: Charles Takavengwa (captain, Milton Junior), Mthabisi Bhebhe (Milton Junior), Anthony Marara (Milton Junior), Michael Dube (Milton Junior), Bongani Ncube (Baines), Ashley Moyo (St Thomas Aquinas), Bongani Malandule (St Thomas Aquinas), Daniel Dube (Henry Low), Ashley Chipare (Gampu), Ashley Moyo (Greenfield), Thuba Saidi (McKeurtan), Mpumelelo Moyo (Fairbridge)
Technical: Pardon Gandanzara (coach), Washington Ncube (manager)
Under-9: Tawanda Magwaro (captain, Baines), Gerald Chinamora (Baines), Tatenda Nyama (Baines), Muzingaye Saidi (Baines), Lethukuthula Nkomo (Nkulumane Primary School), Mbalenhle Juba (Fairbridge), Jacob Tshuma (Gampu), Ayanda Maseko (Insukamini), Hlangabeza Sibanda (Mpumelelo), Tatenda Muringani (Henry Low), Mbongeni Moyo (Mtshingwe), Ndabezinhle Maphosa (Baines)
Technical: Clemence Moyo (coach), Bongani Nyathi (manager)
derick.khumalo