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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
THE Rockview Cricket Academy Under-13 tournament returns after a two-year hiatus with 16 schools and academies converging at Old Hararians and Alexandra sports clubs this morning for this year’s edition.
The tournament was last held in 2019 at Prince Edward School.
This year’s tournament also marks the academy’s 10-year anniversary.
Nortonians Cricket Club, Alfred Beit School, All Stars Cricket Academy, Shamva Country Club, Rhama Cricket Academy Origins Osa, Kwekwe Cricket Club, St Aidan’s School, Elton Chigumbura Cricket Academy, Moffat Primary School, Kadoma Cricket Club, Zengeza 4 Primary, Bindura Country Club, Maximum Cricket Academy, Mashonaland East Cricket Association and Bulawayo Athletic Club will participate in this year’s edition.
Some of the upcoming stars that have competed in this tournament are the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup-bound duo of all-rounder Kelis Ndlovu and Beloved Biza.
In 2019 when the tournament was last held before Covid-19 lockdowns, Ndlovu and Biza’s school St Aidens from Chitungwiza won the tournament.
Rockview finished second in that tournament where Leon Zhakata shone with the ball and bat. Other impactful players on that side were Takudzwa Hove and Dennis Serima, who recently played in the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association 2nd League for Glenshire Cricket Club and Uhuru Cricket Club respectively. All Stars Academy came third in that fiercely contested tournament.
This year’s competition will be a T10 format with half the teams at each venue battling it out for the two top spots. The semi-finals will be held at both venues then the final will take place at Old Hararians Sports Club.
The competition rules are such that girls and boys will play alongside each other. As per tradition, prizes consist of floating trophies and shields for the three best teams and certificates for individual performances such as best bowler, best batter, best fielder, best wicket, best girl performer and most valuable player. Development coaching specialist, Brighton Mhembere, who is also the Zimbabwe Cricket coach responsible for cricket development in Glen View, said the format will develop and foster good game knowledge and awareness in live situations.
“The RCA Under-13 Cricket tournament aims to promote cricket competition in live game situations and help coaches, and players alike, develop and improve their game skills.
“There are no clear favourites to win this year’s competition as all teams have shown immense potential in the various friendlies that they have taken part in the last six months. All games will be scored live on the Zimbabwe Cricket App,” said Mhembere.
Rockview Cricket Academy chairman, Ronald Tapera, said their aim is to develop the community through the sport of cricket.
“We are grateful to the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association and Zimbabwe Cricket for supporting our tournament since its inception in 2013.
“This demonstrates the two organisations’ commitment to the development of cricket at the grassroots level. Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association, through its General Manager, Wonder Chisango, has been instrumental in the logistical arrangements of this tournament including securing the fields for the tournament.
“The obvious benefit is that quite a number of children who have participated in these tournaments have caught the eye of selectors for junior programmes and some have gone on to play at the highest level,” Tapera said.
Rockview Cricket Academy, as part of their activities, host annual prestigious and competitive Under-13 cricket tournaments.
Rockview Cricket Academy is a voluntary, not-for-profit cricket development organisation based in Glen View that caters for boys and girls aged eight up to 23 years.
It was formed in 2012 by Leonard Nhamburo Mhembere, Takura Chisetera and Tonderai Makoni. Nhamburo is the head coach of Rwanda Women, having previously coached the Namibia women’s team.
A local businessman with interests in logistics, Allan Gwiza, has undertaken to sponsor the event.
Grassroots Cricket, an Australian-based cricket charity organisation and the academy’s biggest benefactor for cricket equipment, also chipped in with financial assistance and match balls.
Singatyiwi Enterprises from Norton and Car Hub, a car rental services company based in Harare, are some of the companies that have partnered the tournament organisers.
Online Reporter