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The popularity of the sport of cricket is growing by leaps and bounds in the country. That was the sweet news the cricketing fraternity were told at an end of season prize presentation reception held at Country Club Limbe on Wednesday night.
A very proud Malawi Cricket Union (MCU) chairman Rizvaan Osman reeled off the games successes to the constant applause from the gathered cricketers that included 14-year-old players from Nayizi Primary School in Namiyango, Bangwe Township and Lunzu Primary School in Blantyre.
Osman said the game has already been introduced in most of the Southern and Central region districts.
“This year in May MCU introduced the game in Mzuzu where it is also supported by the Asian community. Land for a cricket pitch has already been acquired.
“Our objective is to reach over 20 districts this year. We are spreading our wings because the results are very encouraging. That’s why we are trying to get a permanent coach from England. The future of the game in Malawi looks very good,” said the fired up Osman.
He attributed the achievements to the hard working spirit of MCU officials and the coaching staff from the schools. He poured special praise on the outgoing national coach Abdul Rehman who is going back to Pakistan.
“He is the one behind the development programme from the grassroots level. He has been going into the rural areas and faced difficult conditions. His going will leave quite a big void,” the cricket boss mused.
The special praises also spilled over to about 23 companies which had supported the game as well as the media.
On international level, Osman said Malawi should strive to attain ‘higher status’ the way Zambia has done. The two countries were the only ones in the region that had not achieved the status.
Blantyre Caterbake team are this year’s 20-overs League champions as well as the 8-a-side champions. Mpingwe Sport Club also won both the 40-overs League and the 9-a-side League, while the Schools League was won by Nayizi Primary School.
“It feels great to have won the league at last because it has taken us about three years. Mpingwe and Lunzu primary schools have been giving us a tough time, so I feel good to have defeated them,” said Nayizi coach Scholastika Koloko, adding that cricket is very popular at her school.
During the ceremony, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of international player Ashraf Gaffar and Anthony Pindani. Pindani was one of three coaches who were understudying Rehman.
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