Grassroots Cricket is set to host its highly anticipated third annual schools cricket clinics in August.
Founded by Tawanda Karasa in 2018, the initiative gives hope to aspiring young cricketers as it cultivates and develops raw talent through world-class coaching and mentorship.
“This year's focus is on building on the momentum of the last two years and embracing the unique methods developed by renowned coaches from their experience at the highest level,” said Karasa, who has forged a winning partnership with Australian cricket coaching greats.
The clinics, scheduled to run from August 5 to 16, 2024, will this year benefit from an illustrious lineup of Australian cricket legends John Buchanan, Paul Wilson and Peter Buchanan, who bring a wealth of experience and expertise among them.
John Buchanan, renowned for leading Australia to multiple ICC World Cup victories, excels in high-performance coaching and team management.
Paul Wilson, a former Australian national cricketer, high-performance coach and ICC Cricket Umpire, brings vast experience from playing and officiating cricket matches at the highest levels.
Peter Buchanan, the current Victoria Cricket Country head coach and director of PB Cricket Academy in Australia, specialises in grassroots development and is known for nurturing young talent and promoting cricket in rural areas.
The distinguished cricket mentors will impart their wealth of cricketing expertise and wisdom to schoolchildren in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Marondera, enriching young minds with essential cricket skills.
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The clinics will offer much more than technical training. They will also impart core values such as teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship, laying a solid foundation for the future of Zimbabwe cricket.
"Our goal is to ignite a passion for the sport and create invaluable opportunities for young cricketers to learn from some of the best coaches in the world,” said Karasa.
“The involvement of seasoned international coaches underscores our commitment to nurturing talent and raising the bar for cricket at the grassroots level in Zimbabwe."
In a bid to further enhance the cricket landscape, the coaches will conduct clinics at prominent educational institutions such as Midlands Christian College in Gweru, Whitestone Primary School in Bulawayo, Celebration International School in Harare and Peterhouse School in Marondera.
Karasa noted that including the Midlands province this year is designed to ensure broader coverage in previously disadvantaged townships, and to empower local coaches with new strategies to deliver effective sessions.
Beyond the established venues, the outreach will extend to high-density suburbs including Hatcliffe, Glen View, Mbare, Mufakose, and Hopley in Harare, and Luveve, Mpopoma, and Emakhandeni in Bulawayo, giving talented but underprivileged children the opportunity to develop their cricketing abilities.
For years, Grassroots Cricket has been working to develop cricket at the grassroots level in Zimbabwe, with support from corporate sponsors such as Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, to ensure the success of the coaching clinics.
