The eight-week programme seeks to create a relationship between upcoming cricketers from junior structures in different clubs and the national team.
In an interview with Standardsport, Mangongo said the programme was set-up to equip youngsters with the basics of cricket at a tender age.
Mangongo is engaging the services of national team players in the coaching seminars.
“It’s important that these young lads rub shoulders with their role models. National team players are doing it out of responsibility in giving back to communities that gave them fame,” he said.
Mangongo added that the programme sought to demystify the mentality that cricket was an elitist sport so that people at grassroots can treat it the same way as other so-called major sports.
“It’s not true to say cricket is an elitist sport. We want to promote the culture of cricket at a tender age and demystify that cricket is an elitist sport”, Mangongo said.
“We should take a leaf from cricket powerhouses like India where the sport is accessible to everyone.”
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Mangongo took a swipe at communities that have been affected by the donor syndrome.
He said: “We actually fail these kids by not organising ourselves (community leaders) and giving direction to the youngsters. Let’s desist from this donor syndrome where we expect ZC to come and spoon-feed us to play the game of cricket at community level.”
National team players like Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya (Takashinga sports club) and Chamu Chibhabha (Chitungwiza) are rendering their services to the project.
Aspiring cricketers from the high-density suburbs of Mutare, Kadoma and Masvingo are set to rub shoulders with their cricket icons in the coming weeks.
