adminActing Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has expressed concern over the state of cricket grounds in Bulawayo which he said were in bad shape. Mukuhlani last Thursday visited three cricket facilities in the city and discovered that most of them needed urgent attention. He disclosed that he was going to raise the issue during a ZC board meeting held in Harare last Friday to see what the cricket mother body can do to spruce up the facilities.
Mukuhlani, in the company of ZC board member Vumindaba Moyo, national grounds curator Fungai Shanganya and Matabeleland Tuskers administrator Stanley Staddon visited Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Athletic Club and Milton High School.
Of particular concern was Emakhandeni where grass in most parts of the outfield has dried up due to lack of water. A visit to the ground by Sunday News showed that the available municipal water is only used to water the centre wicket which is green while the rest of the grass has turned brown.
While a borehole was drilled at Emakhandeni, ground staff disclosed that it is not producing enough water to cater for the outfield. It is understood that the borehole was drilled at the wrong place as that was not the initially identified position. The concrete nets used by up-and-coming talent from surrounding schools are also in a shambolic state.
Mukuhlani pointed out that there was a need to attend to the water situation and fix the nets.
“At Emakhandeni, there is an urgent need to fix the water and nets. We visited three grounds, they are all in bad shape, at Queens work has started and BAC but more is needed at Milton,’’ said Mukuhlani.
Emakhandeni, officially opened by then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Aeneas Chigwedere in February 2004, was meant to be a key feature in the development of the game in the Bulawayo’s western suburbs. There was even an ambitious plan to stage first class as well as international cricket matches at the venue but lack of water meant that the place could not be utilised for all the activities.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association First League matches used to be staged at Emakhandeni but that has since stopped after players were forced to run for cover when a snake was spotted while a match was in progress last year. Uncut grass was blamed for the proliferation of snakes which find a hiding place in the bushy area.
Mukuhlani has also planned to embark on a similar exercise in Harare to ascertain the condition of the cricket facilities in the capital.
Online Reporter