The development programme was initiated by ZCU way back in 1982 to cater for the young enthusiastic cricketers from the less privileged, high-density, areas. At its inception it dealt mainly with the cities of Harare and Bulawayo, and the three coaches employed at that time in Harare only covered three schools in Highfield and two in Mbare. Mr David Levy, who was then the ZCU development manager, worked tirelessly to increase the number of schools in Harare from four to ten by the end of 1983.

Mr Levy continued with his efforts to help the schools who were reluctant to contribute any money towards the development of the game. The programme went from strength to strength, and ZCU with its limited resources continued to explore ways and means of getting the game to the majority of the population. Mr Levy had to use his own personal car at times to make sure of getting from one place to another.

The ZCU and Mashonaland Cricket Association increased the number of coaches in 1987, which in turn helped to increase the number of schools and pupils playing the game. In 1988 the ZCU had four full-time coaches, nine part-time coaches, 27 schools playing cricket in the development areas, and 600 pupils playing the game there in Harare and Bulawayo.

The coaching and playing took place in the dusty football fields with no flat piece of land for a wicket. This did not deter young future stars like Steven Mangongo, now coaching at Eaglesvale, and Walter Chawaguta, now Churchill, from playing the game. ZCU had through its sponsors built some concrete pitches at Mbizi and Chengu, and now found it necessary to build some more.

ZCU never looked back. The Union saw fit to extend into smaller towns and rural areas. This was done successfully in Shamva, Bindura, Marondera, Mutare, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Western Triangle, Gweru, Chinamora and Domboshava.

The number of schools wanting to introduce or reintroduce the game is growing day by day. The programme is now benefiting more than 180 schools and includes true rural areas such as Chinamora, Mrewa, Macheke and Domboshava. The number is bound to increase with the inclusion of more than twenty schools on the waiting list. The number of young cricketers involved in the scheme now stands at more than 8000.

CLUB CRICKET

Development clubs have been formed as well. One of these clubs, Winstonians, is now playing first-league cricket, while the other four clubs are playing in the third and fourth leagues. These clubs are benefiting from high school boys from development areas and scholarship boys.

SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

ZCU sponsors more than 60 talented cricketers into high schools to further their academic progress and their cricket. The boys are selected mainly from the development programme.

NOTABLE SUCCESSES

The programme is already bearing fruit. A good number of players have made great strides in either coaching or playing.

1) Steven Mangongo is now head coach at a private school, Eaglesvale. He is the team manager and coach of a newly promoted first-league team Old Winstonians. He also plays first-league cricket.

2) Walter Chawaguta is responsible for the coaching of all teams at Churchill, a very popular government school. He also plays cricket.

3) David Mutendera started playing mini-cricket and then proper cricket at Shiriyedenga High School in Highfield. He then went to Prince Edward on a ZCJU scholarship. He plays for Universals and is a contracted national team player. He played in the first one-day international against Australia in Bulawayo in November 1999.

4) Alester Maragwede has travelled extensively with the Zimbabwe Under-19 team for the past three years. He played in the Zone VI tournament (now Africa Cup) for the last two tournaments. He is now a student at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy. He is another national team prospect.

5) Tatenda Taibu was selected to play for the national Under-14 team, and just recently the Under-19s. He has been on the cricket academy director's list as a possible replacement for Andy Flower as wicket-keeper. He has decided to go back to school and complete his A-levels before joining the Academy.

6) Hamilton Masakadza has played for the Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 teams.

7) Kudzai Taibu has played at Under-14 and Under-16 levels.

8) Alfred Mbwembwe has played for the Under-14 team.

9) Stuart Matsikanyere has played at Under-14 and Under-16 levels.

10) Lovemore Mbwembwe has played for the Under-16 team.

11) Brighton Ngarava has played at Under-14 level.

The list of young players who are doing very well is endless.

Some of the young players have made it into provincial teams: Amos Maungwa, Walter Chawaguta and Steven Mangongo have played for Mashonaland; Bruce Makova played for Zimbabwe in Zone VI (Africa Cup), Farai Nongerai played for the ZCU President's XI and Zimbabwe B; and Emmanuel Dube for the President's XI.

There are many young players whom we are putting through high performance development from our Development Programme.

NEW COACHES

The following coaches have assumed duty as ZCU development coaches as from 1 February 2000:

Webster Mlambo for Glen View, replacing Robert Mafigo

Sylvester Mutuswa for Zengeza, replacing David Munyengwa

Dumezweni Mutaramutswa for Domboshava

Matthew Lopa for Chinamora

The addition of these coaches brings the total number of coaches on the ZCU payroll to 31.