Tuskers gear up for new season

MATABELELAND Tuskers are gearing up for the new season which starts on Saturday looking to turn around their fortunes after a disastrous last season.
Tuskers coach Wayne James said they have been training for two weeks and were going to intensify their preparations ahead of the start of the season on 9 November.

“We started training two weeks ago, we have reduced our squad to manageable numbers of about 16 to 17 players. There is a good turnout for our training sessions and there is lots of enthusiasm,’’ said James.

At the moment players are not yet sure when they will be made to sign new contracts with the Zimbabwe Cricket said to be working on new deals for players for this season which runs from November to March next year. That means players are most likely to be employed for just five months which is worse than what they were used to, which was a seven-month employment.

Tuskers have been boosted by the arrival of national team players, all rounder Luke Jongwe and left arm seamer Brian Vitori. Jongwe, contracted to the now defunct Southern Rocks franchise made his One-Day International debut against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo in August is already training with Tuskers as he was not considered for the Bangladesh tour while Vitori, on standby for the ODIs for Zimbabwe’s ongoing tour of Bangladesh is due to relocate to Bulawayo this weekend and start training tomorrow.

Wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami, in Bangladesh with the national team at the moment, is another player Tuskers are looking at landing. For now, Tuskers will have to rely on Tony Mupariwa and Dalubuhle Mboyi for the wicket-keeping.

To be led by 22-year-old all rounder Godwill Mamhiyo this season, some of the experienced players in the Tuskers set up are Keith Dabengwa, Tawanda Mupariwa, Sean Williams and Christopher Mpofu.

James said he could not comment on the new players since nothing had been sealed with them.
Winners of the Logan Cup for three seasons in a row which, however, eluded them last season, the Bulawayo based Tuskers start the season with a clash against Mountaineers from Mutare. The two teams clash in a 50 over contest at Queens Sports Club on Saturday before they meet in a Logan Cup four-day match which runs from 11 to 14 November at the same venue.