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Such is the spirit at Highfield’s Takashinga Cricket Club where children, especially from high-density areas, are being given the chance to embrace the beautiful game.
The club manager, Shepherd Munyaradzi Gahadzikwa, dropped by the swag headquarters and gave us an insight into what is happening at Takashinga.
“On Saturday (today) there is a major game that will see Rainbow playing Takashinga 2 at Old Hararians in a national league match. The Takashinga Juniors will get a chance to play during the breaks and all those who want to see what our team is made of can come to see them in action” he said.
Gahadzikwa, who is also a former cricket player himself, added that opportunities like these can help to boost the 60 member junior club if they are to mix and mingle with their idols, most of them they see on TV.
The recruitment process at Takashinga Cricket Club is still in progress and according to the manager; it is open to all children between five and 19 years.
Those who have no idea about the sport can rest assured that the club has adequate manpower to take them through the basics of the sport. It is a bonus to those who are well- versed with it because they will also be taught how they can improve and polish their game.
“During my playing days, cricket was not that easy because there were very few facilities. had a passion for the game so I would travel to different clubs in an effort to play. Cricket facilities could only be accessed at clubs like Old Hararians, Alexandra Club, Harare Sports Club and Country Club. This was discouraging for people from the ghetto because the places are too far,” he said.
This meant that a lot of raw talent from the deprived areas went unnoticed because of the lack of facilities. Initiatives like Takashinga, however, are the bridge for that gap and to prove that it is not all talk big names like former national team captains Tatenda Taibu and Elton Chigumbura came through Takashinga Cricket Club together with Prosper Utseya, whose presence was also felt in the team.
“Cricket is the sport to play for more reasons than one. I encourage youngsters to play cricket because there are many career opportunities that lie within the sport. One can be a coach, an umpire, a scorer (one who records), a personal trainer, groundsman and most of all, one can play professionally abroad,” he said.
Gahadzikwa also highlighted a lot of success stories for many players who could not make it locally but have made a living through the sport.
In the same breath, he said people need to put their heads together to ensure that Zimbabwe does not continue to lose talented players who trek to other countries in search of greener pastures.
“People can also benefit a great deal through cultural exchange as cricket entails a lot of travelling. By the end of the year, Takashinga will be hosting the Zambia Under-16 team. Besides playing the game, they will also benefit from interacting with each other,” he said.
Gahadzikwa’s junior cricketers programme was inspired back in 2011 when he attended a clinic programme “Catch Them Young” organised by Jeremiah Matibiri.
The programme was his initiative to give children living in the “ghetto” an opportunity to play cricket. Since then a series of “Ghetto Blast” tournaments have taken place at the centre that has attracted children from Chitungwiza, Glen Norah, Mabvuku, Kadoma and Bulawayo among others.
Well-wishers are welcome to get involved in the programme. Efforts have been made in making equipment readily available to meet the growing demand. As their numbers increase more equipment will be needed.
Online Reporter