Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE results may not be coming as expected on the pitch for hosts Zimbabwe at the on-going ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup on home soil, but the Government has reiterated its call for support for the growth of the sport industry especially from the grassroots.
Speaking on the sidelines of the youth tournament that is being jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, the chairman of the Sports and Recreation Commission, Nathaniel Madzivanyika, applauded Zimbabwe Cricket for their efforts to turn cricket into a mass sport through their inclusive approach to development. ZC’s policies have focused on transforming the sport from an urban, elite-dominated activity into a nationwide, diverse, and accessible game, which is partly the reason they included Takashinga Cricket Club, which is tucked in the heart of the Highfield high-density suburb, among the hosting venues for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
“As Zimbabwe, we are so grateful and excited to be hosting most of the national and international games, and in particular here at Takashinga in Highfield,” said Madzivanyika.
“These kind of sport codes like cricket, were once rated as those for the elite, and now we are seeing that we are bringing those sport codes to the communities, to the high-density residential areas. We used to hear this at Harare Sports Club and elsewhere.
“But we are grateful as a nation that our teams are doing well and they have qualified as we are co-hosting with Namibia in hosting these games.” Takashinga hosted seven matches in the group stages of the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Previously, the venue staged the Women’s World Cup Global Qualifiers in 2020 and the Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in 2023.
ZC have employed key strategies that include grassroots expansion, gender mainstreaming, and rural development, supported by partnerships with local and international entities.
Madzivanyika was impressed by how ZC, under the leadership of Tavengwa Mukuhlani, have managed to merge their programmes with schools, which are also taking advantage of the free entrance to send school children to the games.
“So, really, as a nation I think we should hit ourselves on the chest to say sport is growing from grassroots to podium performance, which is exactly what we want.
“Our young people have been here from schools and they are observing.
“And I know they are tapping a lot of knowledge out of whatever is happening here. And we will be hosting again the international cricket,” said Madzivanyika.
Zimbabwe will play host to the biggest cricket tournament next year when they join hands with South Africa and Namibia for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
The cricket authorities are investing in the venues, including the construction of the Victoria Falls Cricket Stadium, which is earmarked to be complete by the time the tournament takes place.
“Our stadium in Victoria Falls is almost due for completion, which is a plus to all the stakeholders, to the Government and everyone who is a stakeholder in as far as sport is concerned,” Madzivanyika said.
“If you see a whole ministry being assigned to sport, it means it’s something very critical because sport is good for development, economic development.
“It’s good for unity, it’s good for enjoyment, it’s good for wellness for our people. So, we are so glad that we have so far transited to another level as far as sport is concerned.
“And I’m sure even at AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), we did our best. And we are still working our way through to see and eliminate the things that did not work for us and to take up those things that we have lost. So, I applaud the entire nation.
