Mangongo wants more game time

Brighton Zhawi
STEVE MANGONGO wants his under-19 cricket team to play at least 30 international matches before the 2018 ICC World Cup in New Zealand. The Zimbabwe U19 team is in Malaysia for a four-match series against that country’s national team and its U23 side, and Mangongo believes more game time is the way to go for his teenage cricketers.

“We want to be very professional and play our part in giving the players a fair opportunity before the World Cup,” he said from Malaysia. “Our aim is to play 30 international matches before the next World Cup. If we achieve that, we will be certain that our players will be mentally fit and strong to compete and win at the tournament.”

The veteran coach is hoping to engage 2018 ICC U19 World Cup hosts New Zealand and other top teams in the near future.

“There are confirmed tours to Namibia in November and South Africa for the Coca Cola week in December. But we are looking forward to some big tours next year against Australia, New Zealand and a sub-continent team either home or away. This will harden our players and enable them to compete at this level,” said Mangongo.

Mangongo is pleased with what he has seen in his team, which comprises mostly 17-year-olds.

“The boys are motivated, they want to do well and surpass the benchmark set by the previous group which played beyond expectations. They are keen to step into those shoes. There is still one and half years before the World Cup and I know the boys will be ready by then.”

Meanwhile, an Emerging Side of 20 players is expected in camp tomorrow at Harare Sports Club to prepare for the yet-to-be confirmed visit by the Sri Lanka U23 team and next month’s Africa T20 Cup in South Africa.

“We have looked at some players from the Under-19 World Cup team and other talented fringe players who are yet to get opportunities at Zimbabwe A level,” said Mangongo. “They may have been frustrated by the system and not been given the opportunity to hone their skills and push for places in the A side or even the national team. We want to give the platform to these players and also bridge the gap between the U19 stage and the senior sides.”

U19 Squad in Malaysia

Milton Shumba, Craig Dollar, Arnold Shara, Wesley Madhevere, Privilege Chesa, Jayden Shadendorff, Marshall Takodza, Dion Mazhawidza, Mathew Connolly, Declan Oldrieve, Jerrud Basson, Clive Madhande, Kieran Robinson, Liam Roche, Tony Munyonga