Cricket Namibia celebrate 2016 accomplishments2016 a good year Cricket Namibia CEO Donavan Zealand is delighted with the way the cricket under-19 has played in international competitions. As sport codes are wrapping up their yearly activities, Cricket Namibia is already celebrating their achievements from this year.Cricket Namibia''s CEO Donavan Zealand said 2016 was in general a “good” year for the association.
He outlined the activities that cricket Namibia embarked on this year, and has managed to complete them.
Zealand mentioned that the FNB Kwata program made reached an 80% improvement, with coaching at schools and getting more school on board.
“FNB Kwata program campaign the was very successful in the North, Central, South and West Namibia,” he said, adding that, instruction to hardball was even more successful, especially in Windhoek, Khomasdal and Katutura who fielded 4 x Under-11 and 4 x Under-13 teams.”
He explained that the top two teams from each age group have then progressed to the central inter school league and the Khomasdal Western Suburb Under -11 were crowned runners up in the plate finals.
He further explained that the national interschool league tournament which took place in and around the country was also a success.
The tournament took place in Walvis Bay for the Under-11 and Under-13 at the Salt Refiners Cricket Festival, while the Momentum tournaments and leagues were in Otjiwarongo for the Spar Festival.
According to Zealand, Cricket Namibia''s Central Western and Northern U-11 and Under-13 tournaments, helped the Namibia Under-19 improve their performance at the Under-19 World Cup when the team ended seventh in the World
He mentioned that the Women''s Cricket club league formed part of Cricket Namibia fixtures in T20 and 30 over formats, hosting local franchise T20 tournaments.
The Women''s Under-19 then won the Botswana eight nations tournament 2016.
Meanwhile, Namibia recently hosted English cricket team Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Zealand pointed out that the opportunity to have played the MCC was a good learning curve for the Namibia''s A and U-19 teams.
“Playing quality spin bowling was the highlight for all our players, taking note that we have depth in Namibia cricket if the A and Under-19 sides can play more matches and opponents like the MCC,” he said.
Before wrapping up the year, the Namibia national still have three CSA fixtures to complete playing KwaZulu-Natal Inland in Walvis Bay and then the next two fixtures in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg before going for a slight break.
KAINO NGHITONGO