Collins makes softball coaching history
IDAH Collins has become a historic figure in the game of softball in Chinhoyi.
The 29-year-old former Alaska and Chinhoyi High student has broken barriers by writing her own piece of history, becoming the first female to form a softball club in the Mashonaland West capital.
Collins told Zimpapers Sport that her passion for the rising game started while still at Alaska Primary School between 2001 and 2007.
She then went to Alaska High School from 2008 up to 2011 when she got a scholarship at Chinhoyi High because of softball from 2012 to 2013.
“I attended NASH softball tournaments from 2009 up 2011, and when I went for a tournament at Mutare Boys High, I was chosen as the best left outfielder,” she said.
Collins said her passion for softball began when she was doing her primary education and she would go to Alaska High School’s grounds, where softball was played.
“That is where I got the inspiration and I started to love the game to the extremes,” said Collins.
When her parents heard that she was playing the game, they initially did not approve of it as they wanted her to focus on academic studies.
“However, my late father gave me all the support. Later my mother began to like the game and is now fully supportive,” said Collins.
She said her major obstacle was getting sponsorship for her club.
“We are facing a great challenge in terms of sponsorship, “she said.
Collins said she formed the club as a way of helping in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse by youths.
Her team, Chinhoyi Elite9, participates in a four-team league with Eastlanders from Mutare, Golden Stars of Glen Norah in Harare and Chitown Eagles from Chitungwiza.
Collins believes softball is now getting attention.
“At first it was difficult to get attention like other major sports, but for now things are much better. My aim is to make softball a popular sport like soccer,” said Collins.
She said her club was chosen for a softball training day for old and new players and had an attendance of 60 players.
The one day training was conducted by a group of 10 people from Britain, led by the Great Britain Under-23 Men’s Fastpitch head coach, Richard Brown.
The delegation was made up of Richard and his wife Alison, U23 Team Manager Jill Russell and her husband Gary, Under-18 head coach, Simon Thacker together with three junior players- Bryn Davies and Kyle Johnson, both part of the GB Under-23 Men’s squad and the Eagles at GBFL, and Charlie Thacker, a member of the Under18 squad.
Collins said they got a major boost when the delegation donated 11 bags of softball equipment to softball board, most of it donated from BSF Donation Bin at Farnham Park.