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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MINISTER of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Raymond Kazembe has emphasised on the need to persist with infrastructure building initiatives in all parts of the country to ensure that those with the sporting talent reach their full potential.
In a speech read on his behalf by Isaiah Mpofu, the deputy director, southern region in the Ministry at the unveiling of concrete cricket nets and wicket at Colleen Bawn High School in Gwanda District yesterday, Kazembe said there was a need to generate prospects in places that were not looked at.
“We must continue to focus on infrastructure building programmes across the country, especially in undeveloped areas or previously overlooked areas.
“We must open up opportunities for everyone in this land to be able to participate in sports and reach his or her fullest potential,’’ Kazembe said.
The facilities unveiled yesterday are part of the Kumusha-Ekhaya Cricket Development Programme, a partnership between Zimbabwe Cricket and PPC Zimbabwe.
“It seeks to take cricket to rural areas with similar facilities to be constructed by the cement manufacturing company in all the country’s 10 provinces.
Kazembe said he was aware that running a sport like cricket comes with huge expenditure with long term pledges from stakeholders important to accomplish the aspirations.
“Long-term commitments from stakeholders are needed to achieve our goals in making our country a truly great sporting nation of which we can be proud of. But we are under no illusions as to the enormity of the task, especially when one looks at the huge costs involved in running the game of cricket at all levels,’’ he said.
For that reason, Kazembe believes it should be cause for celebration when PPC Zimbabwe show their bounteousness.
“That is why, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, today is worth celebrating as we unveil a concrete cricket training facility thanks to the generosity of PPC Zimbabwe.’’
His hope was that with facility, Matabeleland South will in the near future become an all-conquering cricket province capable of fielding a first class team dominated by players from the area.
Yesterday’s ceremony came just over a month after PPC also became official shirt sponsors for the senior national cricket team. Prior to the construction of the facilities at Colleen Bawn High School, competitive cricket in Matabeleland South was only played at Falcon College and Plumtree High School.
ZC chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani said it made sense for the unveiling to start at Colleen Bawn where PPC Zimbabwe started their operations in 1946.
His desire is to see cricket matches being played between Colleen Bawn High School and Falcon College.
“This is the first of the concrete wickets that are going to be unveiled in Zimbabwe, it being the first it has been done at Colleen Bawn where PPC is situated so charity begins at home.
“What a coincidence that we have come to Colleen Bawn to unveil concrete wickets to produce clay, limestone and clinker in the form of cricketers,’’ Mukuhlani said.
He expressed his gratitude to PPC Zimbabwe for their show of faith in ZC by continuing to bankroll the sport.
“I want to thank PPC for your faith in us, you are one of the leading brands, one of the best brands, one of the blue chip companies in the country and you have choices.
“You could have gone to basketball, you could have chosen winners already, you could have gone to soccer but you have chosen to be with us at cricket, I want to thank you for that faith in us,’’ he said.
PPC Zimbabwe managing director Kelibone Masiyane said they were privileged to support this development initiative.
“PPC Zimbabwe is actually humbled to be able to support the Ekhaya-Kumusha Cricket Programme through the provision of concrete nets and wickets.
In partnering with Zimbabwe Cricket through this programme, PPC Zimbabwe is actually striving to impact the lives of potential cricketers giving them new opportunities for the future to access and build careers and livelihoods,’’ Masiyane said.
He gave assurance of his company’s support for the game of cricket in the country as they seek to produce future cricketers.
“PPC pledges to continue the support that we are showing right here today.’’
Mukuhlani went on to hand over equipment in the form of bats and cricket balls to Matabeleland South Cricket Association chairman Arthur Maphosa who gave it to Colleen Bawn High School headmaster Mafuna Ncube.
Yesterday’s function was attended by ZC board members, Wonder Chisango, Square Square, Ronald Chibwe, Charles Office, Vumindaba Moyo and Fiona Ndlovu.
Also present was acting district schools inspector for Gwanda Cathrine Tshili, ZC employees Nicholas Singo, Lovemore Banda, Givemore Makoni, Nokuthula Sibanda-Ndlovu and Fungai Shanganya.-@Mdawini_29
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