Efforts to boost blind cricket in KZN
Netball development takes off
WOODHURST Netball Club conducted a successful development programme recently in an effort to raise netball awareness and bolster their player reserves.
The timing of the programme was perfect as the Chatsworth Netball Union’s (CNU) senior and junior leagues begin in a few weeks.
“We have been promoting and developing the game in the area for the past 31 years,” club president, Kelly Moonsamy said.
She continued, “The club takes youth development very seriously and we believe by developing a player from an early age, they can become national players in the future.”
The programme was co-ordinated by seasoned club players and administrators, Mala Moonsamy and Jane Padayachee.
The duo worked with more than 50 girls through a high intensity programme at the Road 1009 Grounds in Chatsworth.
“We worked on the code of conduct and an overview of technical aspects of netball and rules of the game was discussed,” Moonsamy said.
She continued, “Our co-ordinators then moved on to warm-up drills, ball-skills, attacking, defensive drills and shooting skills.”
Moonsamy says developing homegrown players is vital for a club which has struggled due to a lack of training facilities in the area.
“Woodhurst Sporting had the biggest junior structure for years at CNU but the lack of funding and proper facilities in the area has hindered our membership numbers, but we still try to do our best,” Moonsamy said.
This season the club will register one senior side and three junior outfits with the CNU.
“We are looking forward to another exciting season,” Moonsamy said.
She continued, “We want our teams to do well but we feel it is more important for our players to develop. It is vital for our juniors to learn to enjoy the game.”
The CNU will hold its senior opening tournament this coming Sunday while the juniors will start their campaign next month. THE KZN Blind Cricket team are ready to host their Gauteng counterparts in a friendly series which gets under way today at the Sirpat Road Grounds in Reservoir Hills.
The series forms part of a development project by the KZN Association for Blind Cricket, to grow the sport in the province.
With a number of former national players retiring in recent years the sport needs a desperate injection of youth.
KZN Blind Cricket founder, Shane Mahabeer says the sport is in a rebuilding phase.
“We have drafted a number of young players into our structures and this will be an excellent chance for our youth to get onto the park,” Mahabeer said.
He continued, “The youngsters in the squad are doing well and there are plenty of positives for us to take out. We need to constantly test our players and challenge ourselves to do better. It also helps us to prepare this team adequately for national tournaments.”
According to Mahabeer the provincial mother body is on the cusp of establishing a women’s team. A number of female players will be involved in the three match T20 series against Gauteng.
“Some talented players have been unearthed and we feel like we are moving in the right direction,” the former Team South Africa manager said.
Mahabeer says the women’s game has grown in leaps and bounds internationally and that South Africa is in danger of falling behind.
“Our females have an immense passion for the game and our overall aim is to eventually create a women’s team in the province,” Mahabeer said.
“Gauteng are set to arrive with a very strong team. We will do our best to compete,” Mahabeer added.