TANZANIA CRICKET ASSOCIATION

DEVELOPMENT REPORT JUNE TO AUGUST 2006.

 

DOMESTIC LEAGUES::

In June all domestic leagues were at standstill, due to the rains, grounds and other preparations for the ICC WL Phase 11 for Africa region.

 

DEVELOPMENT:

While all the TCA officials, development officers, both men’s and women’s senior national team players and other members from various club joined hands working tirelessly in making sure that all preparations were completed in just 10 weeks time to meet the event date. While the men’s senior national team players were busy helping Komu in preparing the grass wickets and leveling out fields, the women’s national team players were busy planting the grass on the wickets. TCA officials had yet another important task up their sleeves in preparing the national team for the event. The development of a new ground at University of Dar es salaam, preparation of grass wicket, building new pavilion, score board, sight screen etc and with all the financial constrains it was quite frustrating and stressful at times, but the challenge undertaken was full of fun and excitement. All this tedious work did not stop the on going development program, as the youths enjoyed their junior cricket games at their schools and also attended their elite training program at the Muhimbili Cricket Academy in their normal routine. In mid May this year, Master Kassimu Nassoro, aged 18yrs, attended a three day spin bowling academy in Nairobi, Kenya, conducted by a very well known and a world class spinner, Terry Jenner, his performance in the provisional squad camp, earned him a place in the senior national team being the youngest player in the Tanzanian contingent.
 

UMPIRES SEMINAR:

In June Onesmo Kagimbo and Lucy Mayunga, umpires from the development program attended East African umpires seminar in

Kenya, organized by the ICC Africa regional office, conducted by Mr. Subash Modi of Kenya. Ms Lucy Mayunga from Tanzania, happened to be the only lady umpire to attend the seminar. Lucy has officiated in the ICC East Africa development tournaments for U15, U17 along with David Odiambo of Kenya and is well known in all the East African countries. She has also been officiating in the ‘’A’’ division domestic leagues in Dar es Salaam since the year 2003.

 

CURATOR SEMINAR:

 

On the 28th and 29th August a two day curator’s seminar was conducted by the Kenyan expert Komu Maithya, who was in Dar for the final preparation of the grass wickets for the event. The seminar was attended by 10 grounds men from Anadil Burhani, Muhimbili Cricket academy and UDSM ground. The grounds men were educated by Komu on the following:

1. Digging Wickets       4. Cutting grass                         7. Watering wickets

2. Soil Mixture              5. Leveling Wickets                 8. Spiked roller & fertilizer

3. Planting grass            6. Preparing & Rolling wickets 9. Marking the ground

 

Komu prepared the grass wickets for both the venues of the event and was highly commended by TCA for the job very well done. He was awarded for his dedication in rendering a very good service making the event a success during the closing ceremony of the ICC WL on the 27th August 2006.
 


ICC WL PHASE 11 - AFRICA REGION - DSM:


All teams and officials arrived on the 21st August 06, landing at the Mwalimu Nyerere International airport in Dar es Salaam and were accommodated at the New Africa Hotel. All teams were provided with transport facilities from airport pick up to airport drop off inclusive of their rest days.  The presences of all the ICC, ACA officials and the Chair persons from all the participating country for the event was highly appreciated by the TCA officials and the cricket fraternity. ACA tournament director Tom Tikolo from Kenya can not be denied an appraisal for handling the whole event in an immaculate manner making it a success. TCA commends the umpiring panel from Kenya, headed by Subash Modi and scorer Aleya along with other Tanzanian scorers to have officiated all the games in a professional manner. But credit should also go to all the excited and determined team managers, Coaches and the participants of the event for playing the game in the right spirit and making the whole event incident free.
 

The tournament started as scheduled on the 23rd August 06, with a very colorful opening ceremony held at the Anadil Burhani grounds and was graced by the Hon DeputyMinister for Information, Culture and Sports Mr. Joel Bendera. All the participating teams had a march past on the ground with a sweet sound of the police band, followed by youths of both gender from primary schools indulge in the development program. Five slogans were displayed featuring key problems which Africa needs to work on. i.e.: 1. LETS FIGHT MALARIA AND AIDS IN AFRICA. 2. LETS ERADICATE PROVERTY IN AFRICA. 3. LETS EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN FOR BRIGHTER AFRICA. 3. LETS PROTECT OUR FOREST AND ENVIROTMENT IN AFRICA 5. LET GIVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO WOMEN IN AFRICA.


Tanzania fielded a very young side out of which eighty percent of the youths come from the associations on going national development program which started six years ago. Most of the youths do not have any cricketing back ground won all their four games with a big margin and emerged champions of the tournament. The young Tanzania contingent prove to be very vital in all the departments of the game by restricting all the participating team to complete its 50 allotted over’s, with their powerful bowling line up comprising of Hamisi, Khalil, Benson, Kassimu and Athumani and also showed their aggressiveness in batting with Abhik, Athumani, benson, Khalil, Damji, Kassimu and kazim. Tanzania was expecting a tough challenge from Botswana, but Tanzania proved to be very strong for them by dismissing them for 97 runs in 31 overs and finishing the game in only 16 overs for 2 wickets down. In fact all the games were one sided for the young powerful Tanzanian side. In the Tanzanian contingent, Athumani Kakonzi and Benson Mwita clinched all the man of the match awards from their four games. Athumani was also awarded the man of the series, while his colleague Benson settled with the best bowler of the series award.  TCA has yet another task in preparing the team for the second stage of the qualifying series to be played in USA in May 2007, especially with all the financial constrains.


TCA administration proved its capability for hosting such events as they left no stone unturned in the preparation for the event, hoping that ICC / ACA will consider Tanzania for such events in future. Victory in this event is considered as a stepping stone for the Tanzanian team as they need to work hard for their second stage in USA.

 

PHOTO GALLARY ICC WL – DAR