Under-14 T20 Cricket Cup tourney begins
THE stage is set for the second edition of the four-nation Old Mutual Heath Streak Africa Under-14 T20 Cricket Cup which starts today in Bulawayo and ends on Tuesday.
The tournament will feature Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and defending champions Zimbabwe.
The visiting teams were expected in Bulawayo last night, with Botswana and Zambia coming by road while Namibia were set to fly through Harare before proceeding to the City of Kings.
Joseph Rego, the academy’s chief executive officer said they are ready to host the competition and called on cricket loving Bulawayo fans to come in their numbers and support up and coming cricketers.
“We’re very excited that the day has finally come and as organisers we’re very much looking forward to staging a memorable tournament.
“The teams will arrive tonight and the matches will start on Saturday at 9AM. People who love cricket should come and see the future stars in action because this will certainly be a great event for the whole family,” Rego said.
The tournament is a platform for young cricketers to showcase their talents and develop their skills.
Rego said the participants were selected through drawing of lots.
“When we started this tournament in 2015, we had three countries and for this year’s edition, eight nations, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Ta n z a n i a , FIREWORKS are expected today when second placed Ajax Hotspurs play host to relegation threatened CS Distributors at Bango in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two League.
Ajax are second on the table having amassed 31 points from 15 games leaving them a point behind leaders Toronto.
A win for Ajax could take them to the top of the table if results elsewhere go in their favour.
Ajax go into the fixture eyeing to secure top spot and head coach Gugulethu Dlomo is confident the team will win.
“It is a difficult game but we are ready for the challenge, the log leaders are well within our reach so we hope to get maximum points and enhance our promotion chances”
“We are ready for CS Distributors they held us to a two all draw first leg but we are confident going into this one. We are not reading much into their position, we are just after maximum points,” said Dlomo.
Ajax go into the fixture banking on the experience of Maxwell Mburayi, Tanatsa Hove, Clement Vheremu and young goalkeeper Thembelani Mlotshwa.
They are likely to miss the services of midfielders Lawrence Phiri and Hillary Ncube who are nursing injuries.
Meanwhile, CIWU face a tricky Chicken Inn side at Eveline High School.
CIWU head coach Kudzai Mhandire said his charges were raring to go and hoped his players had not lost the rhythm and form they were in before the postponement of their game against LSU last week.
Leaders Toronto who have suffered a slump in form in recent weeks are away to Zenzele in what is a must win game for the Pumula East based outfit. Malawi and Mozambique have confirmed their participation in Zimbabwe’s mini-IPL of which four nations were finally selected by a way of a lucky draw,” said Rego. South Africa, who took part in the first edition, will miss out. Other countries that competed at the inaugural edition are Botswana and winners Zimbabwe. The countries that will compete in this year’s edition will run under the following franchises, defending champions Fazak Zimbabwe, Choppies Botswana and Pepsi Zambia. The organisers are still waiting for a corporate to take up Namibia’s franchise. Zimbabwe senior national cricket coach Heath Streak and local cricketers, who include national team skipper Graeme Cremer, spin bowler John Nyumbu, Sean Williams and pace bowler Christopher Mpofu, are among guests expected to attend the tournament. The highlight of the competition will be on August 15 when the Africa Cup winners play an exhibition game against the Old Mutual Heath Streak Development team selected from 20 top cricket playing schools from Bulawayo’s high density suburbs. — @ZililoR