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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TWENTY schools from Bulawayo’s western areas will benefit from the Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy’s Corporate Cricket League to be launched on Friday.The programme that runs under the theme “My vision, my dream” will see companies adopting schools from the high density suburbs and providing them with cricket equipment as part of the academy’s goal of spreading the sport to previously underprivileged schools.

The equipment which includes bats, gloves, pads and balls was shipped from a leading manufacturer Sareen Sport of India.

Sareen Sport is a famous brand of cricket equipment and manufactures goods used by top-class cricketers all over the world. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakara and our very own Hamilton Masakadza are brand ambassadors of Sareen Sport.

Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy’s major shareholder Raji Modi said support from the corporate world has been overwhelming and they are ready for the launch that will take the game by storm.

“From the very first day of the ‘My vision, my dream’ initiative we always wanted to get the underprivileged people playing cricket and it’s happening through this Corporate Cricket League. Our ultimate goal’s to spread wings to rural schools because cricket isn’t an elitist sport but it’s for everyone. In the long run there shall be an academy team that will be made of players that our coaches would’ve scouted. It’s our hope that some of the players produced by our multi-sports centre will go on to represent the country in future,” said Modi.

Joseph Rego, the Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy chief executive officer said through the initiative that they are running schools will get an opportunity to train at their facilities as part of the deal that they have made with companies.

The academy’s coaches who include seamer Christopher Mpofu, Goodwill Mamhiyo, Tasmeen Granger and Gavin Ewing will also go to schools, training teachers as well as making follow-ups on players’ progress.

“This initiative that we’re doing is going to be one of the biggest not only in Zimbabwe but Africa as a whole in terms of community sports development. We’re starting with 20 companies who will be unveiled at the launch on Friday together with their schools and our target is to have 50 schools in January and 200 by end of next year,” Rego said.

“Cricket clothing would be provided to children and we’re looking at about 15 players per school. Each school will also get two top of the range branded cricket kits valued at about $1,000. This whole project is about giving youngsters an opportunity to play cricket and even realise their dreams.”

Rego said through the Corporate Cricket League they will also take an initiative to encourage girls to take up the sport.

“Cricket shouldn’t be confined to men and that’s why the Heath Streak Multi-Sport Academy would also inspire and motivate girls to get involved in playing cricket. We’ll engage them (girls) in our outreach programmes with talented girls coming to train at our facility,” Rego said.