ZIMBABWE Cricket is assembling youthful sides for men and women that will represent the country at the forthcoming African Games in Accra, Ghana, where the ‘gentleman's game’ is set to make its debut at the continental games.
Former national team coach Steve Mangongo has been tasked with preparing the senior men’s national team due to his position as the head of Programmes Zimbabwe U25 men’s teams.
Mangongo, a cricket development genius who takes no prisoners, has been with the team since last month after returning from abroad.
He is delighted to be back home and working with the young talent, the future Chevrons.
“The big feeling is that home is the best, it's your people, it's your umbilical cord environment, the energy simply flows,” he told NewsDay Sport yesterday.
Having coached the Zimbabwe U19 before, Mangongo was impressed with the game's transformation under the tutelage of ZC managing director Givemore Makoni.
He said game time at domestic cricket has increased while women's cricket side has turned professional.
“Noticeable changes while I was in the wilderness are that ZC has grown the domestic games. We now have more domestic competitions, meaning more game time to the players,” added Mangongo.
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“There's NPL (National Premier League), T10 domestic and international tournaments, the Pro 50 Championship and the Regionals in which the cream of domestic players compete against each other. Cricket is being played consistently throughout the season.
“Girls and ladies cricket is now being run in a professional manner. Basically, the ground is fertile to unearth talent.”
The African Games, run by the African Union on behalf of its member states, are held after every four years, a year before the Olympics.
The 13th edition of the African Games runs from March 8 to 23.
Over 4 000 athletes are expected to compete in 23 different sports codes. They include cricket, triathlon, athletics, hockey, football, handball, tennis, rugby, martial arts and many more.
“Cricket at All Africa Games is a massive milestone in spreading the game in Africa. In fact, apart from the African Games annual age group tournaments should be the norm in Africa for cricket to excel as Africa is not in short supply of natural athletes,” Mangongo said.
The African Games promotes solidarity and integration apart from celebrating African cultural values and heritage.
They also play a significant role in fostering the social fabric and unity among member states as well as promoting peace.
