Current Zimbabwe National Cricket Captain, Hamilton Masakadza last week headlined the grassroots stragglers cricket week festival held at St Georges sponsored by Stanbic Bank.
Masakadza together with other cricket players took time from their training camp with the senior side to sign autographs and encourage youngsters on how they can make it in the world of cricket.
“Stragglers is a very important Festival and is an excellent platform for not only identifying talent but for young people to enjoy themselves playing the game they love. I definitely would like to see it continue into the foreseeable future. If possible every cricket youngster should go through this program”, said Masakadza.
Former cricket player Stewart Matsikenyere also showed up at the Festival albeit as a parent as his 11-year-old son, Jayden was playing.
These cricket stalwarts gave their thumbs up to the week-long cricket festival, describing it as “the best tournament for junior cricket development in the country”.
The annual Stragglers Cricket Festival burst into life on Monday 27 August at Hartman House and St George’s College, with over 200 boys aged between 9 to 12 years participating, each playing 5 matches where they all batted and bowled.
The set-up of the Festival is such that the boys not only bat and bowl but they get tips from cricket legends and some of the best coaches in the country.
While the matches were competitive, the Stragglers Festival organisers ensured that the highest level of fair play was upheld and that the boys from elite schools and development sides such as Chitungwiza select, Glenview, Shamva and Runyararo (Mucheke, Masvingo) all interacted seamlessly while having fun.
Masakadza became the youngest ever cricketer to score a century on Test debut at the age of 17 years and 254 days with a brilliant 119 against the West Indies in Bulawayo in 2000-01. This record has, however, since been eclipsed by Mohammad Ashraful.
