Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has hailed the success of its grassroots development initiative, Cricket Kumusha-Cricket Ekhaya, after training 241 participants in coaching and umpiring courses across the country between January and April this year.
The development drive, aimed at rural communities, included basic coaching, Level 1 coaching and Grade D umpiring courses conducted in all 10 provinces, targeting both male and female participants.
The training sessions were hosted at schools, teacher training colleges and sports clubs, signalling growing interest in cricket at the grassroots level.
Of the 241 trained between January and April, 191 received basic coaching certification, 19 completed Level 1 coaching and 31 undertook umpiring training.
Courses were held in Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South, with notable support from schools and provincial sports officials.
At Belvedere Teachers College alone, 60 physical education students were trained, creating a pool of educators equipped to promote the game in schools.
Similarly, courses in places like Chipinge, Gwanda and Mvurwi drew participants from multiple districts, reflecting strong regional interest.
“This marks a significant milestone in our quest to take cricket to every corner of Zimbabwe,” said Lazarus Razau, ZC’s Coach Education Officer and Cricket Kumusha-Cricket Ekhaya programme coordinator.
“What’s particularly encouraging is the diverse participation, including teachers, club representatives, community members and even members of the police service.”
ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni described the initiative as a cornerstone of the organisation’s vision for inclusive cricket development.
“Cricket Kumusha-Cricket Ekhaya is more than just a training programme – it’s about transforming lives through sport,” he said.
“By investing in grassroots coaching, umpiring and talent identification, we are laying the foundation for future national players from rural communities.”
The next phase of the programme would include establishing local leagues, enhancing school competitions and conducting scoring courses to complement the umpiring training.
Despite challenges such as limited facilities and competition from more traditional sports, ZC remains committed to scaling up the project.
Plans are in place to upgrade playing fields like the Esigodini Cricket Ground and provide more plastic bats and soft balls to beginner teams.
“From Gwanda to Murehwa, from Karoi to Chipinge, we have seen that the hunger for cricket is there. Now it’s our job to feed it,” Makoni said.
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