Times of Eswatini

Criiios programme in limelight in Australia

- BY MELUSI MKHABELA

MBABANE – The Eswatini Cricket Associatio­n (ECA) is making impeccable strides in providing a brighter future for cricketers in the country.

The introduced Criiios programme had a staggering start, as funding for each of the eight sessions was very bleak. However with determinat­ion the programme facilitato­rs are making ends meet for the junior cricketers to have practice equipment and the availabili­ty of coaches. Recently the programme had its very first Criiio session at Osabeni Primary School, where one of the young students’ batting attracted many comments on the ECA Facebook page. Further, one Kgwahla Lucas Mokgomogan­e from South Africa (SA), opted to post the image on the Africa Cricket Developmen­t Facebook page.

Mokgomogan­e mentioned that previously they enrolled coaches from Eswatini in online coaching courses, that were offered by Big G Australia, that intended to assist developmen­t programmes. He said it was unfortunat­e to learn that the project was abandoned by its initiators, hence he decided to create a platform that would showcase grass root programmes the likes of Criiios.

“I posted the picture of the young man from Eswatini and it had positive feedbacks as people of interest engaged the picture. The picture was also shared to an Australian platform called ‘Glewed on Cricket’,” Mokgomogan­e said.

Improve

He also said with the amount of effort being put to improve the sport, such grass root programmes would be imperative in the futures of the young cricketers. Mokgomogan­e who is based in SA, is a Board Member of the Provincial Union of Limpopo Impalas Cricket, as well as running developmen­t programmes in his district. He highlighte­d that one of the schools, Kopanong Primary had been nominated as the Sports Developmen­t School of the year. He further mentioned that his whole objective was to inspire rural based players and teams with no facilities. He finally, advised the Criiios and ECA Operations Officer, Mandla Dlamini that developmen­t should not be hampered by the lack of facilities. Rather they should acquire portable equipment as he has done for the developmen­t programmes he is overlookin­g.

In agreement was Mandla Dlamini who emphasised on the importance of having beginner’s cricket equipment and how the programme is positive in building the numbers of participan­ts in the sport. With their set target of 35 000, Operations Officer, Dlamini was happy mentioning that the target will surely be reached come September of this year. He also expressed excitement that their efforts were beginning to be recognised internatio­nally.

 ?? (Courtesy pic) ?? A group photo of the some of the aspiring coaches taking part in the Criiios coaching programmes.
(Courtesy pic) A group photo of the some of the aspiring coaches taking part in the Criiios coaching programmes.

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