ROCKINGHAM Colliery Cricket Club’s affection for Chitungwiza’s St Aidan's Primary School continues to grow in leaps and bounds as the United Kingdom-based Championship Division side aims to leave a legacy in the dormitory town.
Richard Skipworth better known as Skip in local cricket circles, together with his South Yorkshire Cricket League side hosted former Rising Stars head coach Stuart Matsikenyeri as a professional player during his tour with the now defunct Tatenda Taibu-initiated project in 2017 and the relationship has scaled to dizzy heights since then.
“Matsikenyeri became a close friend of the club and committed to sending us some of his brightest young talent, to play as overseas pro’s at Rockingham. In the summer of 2019, we hosted Tony Munyonga and in 2020 we were due to receive Wessly Madhevere (but our plans were curtailed by Covid-19),” Skipworth told The Sports Hub.
“However, earlier in 2020, some of our Rockingham members travelled to Zimbabwe to meet the boys and were delighted to visit St Aidan’s school, which was the primary school of both players.
“We were amazed by the talent of the young cricketers at the school, but equally concerned by the lack of equipment and facilities. So, on return to the UK, we committed to try and help and that’s how our sponsorship of the St Aidans school cricket team began."
The UK-based side committed themselves to establish a scholarship scheme for St Aidan's boys upon completion of their primary schooling. They currently pay fees for three former St Aidan's students studying and playing cricket at Churchill High School until they sit for the Ordinary Level examinations.
The three are Benny Zuze, Zvikomborero Masango and Ambitious Maduma.
“One of the iconic parts of the project has been the implementation of the Chitungwiza Junior Premier League, which has helped to spread cricket among the wider community,” added Skipworth.
“We administer the league from the UK and have managed to gain acceptance and participation from several schools that have not historically played cricket. In the first year of the competition, we had five primary school participants and this year, we have had seven. In 2024, we are planning a second division of the competition as the game continues to grow.
“Five of the Chitungwiza primary schools now have an off-field practice facility after we were able to offer delivery of a frame and net to schools that were prepared to invest in a concrete surface. "The success of the project has hinged on the dedication of coaches Malcom Chikuwha (St Aidan’s) and Kuda Chigurupate (Zengeza 4) who have been contracted by Zimbabwe Cricket. However, we have supplemented coaching provisions by putting four other cricketers through formal coaching sessions. These new coaches now work their magic at Dudzai, Chinembiri, Fungisai and Bright Daisies, schools.”
Skipworth was delighted to see the fruits of investing in a concrete playing surface as Dudzai with no single win in their cricketing history scooped bronze in the recently held CJPL hosted at St Aidan’s.
ZC coach education officer Francis Rashikai attended the finals and donated cricket equipment on behalf of the association.
“On our visit last year, we were able to present each of the participating schools with a full bag of kit, containing bats, balls, pads, and gloves. On our visit this year, we really enjoyed visiting some of the other schools and running coaching sessions alongside the resident coaches,” Rashikai said.
“The development of the young cricketers has been spectacular and very rewarding to see.
"Indeed, one of the highlights of our trip this year was our visit to Dudzai school, who took delivery of their net just a year ago. In 2022 Dudzai didn’t win a single game in the CJPL, but in 2023 they challenged the best and actually came third (out of 7 teams). Their cricket net facility is in use seven days a week and two of their boys are being watched by Churchill High School."
Skipworth wants to see Chitungwiza produce more players for the national team.
“The untapped cricketing talent in the town is incredible and we firmly believe that cricket in Chitungwiza will continue to grow at pace. The town certainly has the potential to produce many more players for the national team, within the next few years. If we can play just a small part in that, then we would be very happy to help some of the youngsters to realise their dreams,” he said.
“Aside from the cricketing aspect of the project, we have been pleased to gift some laptops and educational equipment to St Aidan's school and have set up a partnership arrangement with a St Aidan's school in Huddersfield, UK, whereby 60 students trade Pen Pal letters on a regular basis. “We would like to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of the school coaches, but also offer a special mention to St Aidan's headmaster Augustine Mupfumira who has heralded the power of cricket and encouraged his counterparts to offer cricket as at their schools."
