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Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira chats with, from left, Heath Streak Multi Sports Academy chief executive officer Joseph Rego, board members Eliphas Mashaba and Raj Modi

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services Prisca Mupfumira has praised the Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy in Bulawayo for assisting government in sport development in line with Zim-Asset.

One of Zim-Asset’s goals is to eradicate poverty and Mupfumira says sport has a big role in the economic transformation of the nation.

“It’s very encouraging to see the private sector like the Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy coming to assist government in sport development. In line with Zim-Asset’s goals of economic development, the government wants to create a healthy nation and through sport, we can be able to eradicate poverty. We appreciate that sport is a big player in the economy and we want to see it getting to greater heights,” said Mupfumira.

She challenged pupils from Sizane High School and King George VI Memorial during her tour of the Heath Streak Multi-Sport Academy yesterday to take sport as “a serious subject” which could lead them to greener pastures.

“When we were growing up we were discouraged to take up sport seriously with our parents putting emphasis on our academic achievements. We were even discouraged to take up drama and music so that we would concentrate on our school work. Today sport is a big player in the economy and that is where you find most of the richest people. So, children should be encouraged to take sport as a serious subject as they stand to earn a living from it.”

Mupfumira also heaped praise on the academy for sourcing cricket equipment on behalf of underprivileged schools.

The Heath Streak Multi-Sport Academy through their ‘My Vision, My Dream’ Corporate Cricket Initiative engaged companies which adopted schools of their choice from the western areas and provided them with cricket equipment worth $2,000 per school.

The programme is part of the academy’s goal of spreading the sport to previously underprivilegded schools.

Equipment includes bats, gloves, pads and balls which have been sourced from a leading manufacturer Sareen Sport of India.

Through the Corporate Cricket Initiative, schools are getting an opportunity to train at the state-of-the-art Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy as part of the deals that they cut with companies.

The academy’s coaches, who include seamer Christopher Mpofu, Godwill Mamhiyo, Tasmeen Granger and Mxolisi “Boxy” Dube, have also been training teachers.

The Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy is targeting at having 150 Bulawayo schools joining their Corporate Cricket Initiative by June before spreading to other parts of the country.

“It’s my hope that this noble project that started here in Bulawayo spreads to other parts of the country because it is through these initiatives by the public sector that we can revive our economy and be a sporting powerhouse,” said Mupfumira.

Board members Elifasi Mashaba and Raj Modi attended the tour of the facility yesterday morning.