Andrew Hall: How is the ZCU Development programme structured?

Henry Motzi: The ZCU Programme starts at Primary school level. We start coaching at six, and go up to 13. There are in fact two tiers in Primary schools – one for the colts and one for the juniors. We also run a scholarship scheme which sees our boys into the High Schools – they are sponsored by the ZCU. From those High Schools, they go into Club cricket, where we encourage those youngsters after they have completed their High School to form their own cricket clubs, which are also sponsored by the ZCU.

Andrew Hall: How do the kids we see today with huge amounts of talent progress through to Age Group Cricket, the Academy and eventually the national team?

Henry Motzi: ZCU coaches have access throughout the year, and they identify the most talented ones who are sponsored by ZCU to go to schools with good cricket facilities and play good cricket. Schools like Prince Edward and Churchill and others throughout the country. Those youngsters are also invited to attend the squad of excellence once every week at Harare Sports Club the former Zimbabwe Cricket Academy. From there, these youngsters are identified by the selectors.

Andrew Hall: What are the greatest needs of the Development Programme at the moment?

Henry Motzi: At the moment, the greatest need is equipment. It is very expensive in this country, schools cannot afford to buy it, and Zimbabwe Cricket Union is finding it very difficult to acquire because of the economic hardships. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union does not have enough money to buy the equipment to equip schools throughout the country – the programme now reaches very many parts of the country.

Andrew Hall: CricInfo has donated five million Zimbabwe Dollars to the Development Programme. How is that going to affect the situation?

Henry Motzi: It will help a lot. That five million will go a long way to help us acquire what we need, especially with equipment, as I have said. And the construction of cricket pitches. A proper cricket square is very expensive to maintain. Five will be completed by the end of this month, and six others will be erected in Kutu. The next area we want to develop is Chinamora. So this five million is coming at a good time, and helping it all go smoothly.

Andrew Hall: How many schools do you have within the programme?

Henry Motzi: Currently 180 schools are playing good cricket – that is those schools which are playing cricket under the watchful eyes of ZCU coaches. There are already twenty more schools that will be joining us – we have also employed two new coaches who will be looking after them.

Andrew Hall: Can you give us a flavour of the enthusiasm for cricket in high-density areas?

Henry Motzi: The enthusiasm is overwhelming. ZCU cannot afford to employ enough coaches, because almost every kid wants to play cricket at the moment. It has taken over from soccer, because the kids are playing cricket in the streets now. We used to see soccer everywhere. Now it is cricket.

Andrew Hall: How close are we to seeing development players breaking through into Test cricket?

Henry Motzi: Very close – in actual fact we have two. We have Tatenda Taibu who was at this school - who might be playing tomorrow against England. And there are a lot more coming who are good enough now for the national team. We have other youngsters like Alexander Muzacaza, who is a brilliant batsman. The list is endless.