Mountaineers to retain squad

build their season around most of their current players.
The team are the reigning champions of the Stanbic Bank 20 series.

The Mutare giants were an unstoppable force in the inaugural 2009/10 season, clinching the Faithwear/Metbank 50-over cup, the inaugural Stanbic Bank T20 that pulled in record crowds and were voted the Franchise Team of the Year.
Then, the Mountaineers were a star-studded side with at least six of their starting XI players all featuring for the national team.
Two seasons after that, the franchise suffered from a player exodus.

They lost players like Stuart Matsikanyeri, Tatenda Taibu and Njabulo which had a strong bearing on their future performances as they never won the two titles in the seasons that followed.
But things are changing at the Mountain Goats.

“We are happy with the squad we have and we are working on keeping the squad as intact as possible,” said Brent. “I spoke to the players, they are happy and no one has intentions of leaving us the next season.
“We are very happy with the homegrown youngsters who are coming on well so we have a lot to work with, the next season will be a better one for us. We have enough to compete and state our claim next season.”

Over the past year, the franchise administrators worked hard to restore the deteriorating outfield, pitch and other training facilities at Mutare Sports Club.
Brent is working towards engaging Mutare’s business community to refurbish cricket facilities in Manicaland and is currently in the process of engaging schools within the franchise to improve their development programmes.

“We are working with Farai Chari the acting area manager, Lincoln Bhila from our board and Adele Malion from Marondera. We will spend a full day going around Marondera schools visiting headmasters and introducing the new faces at the Mountaineers so they know who to contact,” said Brent.
“These are some of the things we can’t do during the season.

It is important because we look after them [schools] with regards to coach education. Most schools have teachers assigned per age group but often most of them haven’t had a good background with cricket and have minimal coaching experience.
“So we take it upon ourselves to assist with the training and sometimes coach the children.”

Although there might be five to six months before the domestic season starts, Hamilton Masakadza is also confident in the future of his franchise and believes the approach employed by Brent and his team will in turn result in more positive results next season.
“There is a lot of work in progress and we [the players] are happy,” said Masakadza.

“Things are not perfect but the encouraging thing is that everyone including the players is working hard to fix the problems. We are always asking and asked what more can we do and what we need to do less so that we start to produce the best results.”