By GWEN CHIPASULA –
ZAMBIA Cricket Union (ZCU) president Reuben Chama says it is unfortunate that power hungry people are busy sending wrong information to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Africa Cricket Association (ACA).
Recently, a former ZCU development officer Peter Phiri, in letters addressed to the ICC and copied to the Ministry of Sports and Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ), accused the Chama-led executive committee of failing to run the affairs of the sport.
Phiri, whose contract was terminated by the ZCU, claimed that the standards of the sport had gone down from the time Chama took over from Rashid Patel and also accused the executive of failing to run the league.
He said in a statement that it was sad that the union was even failing to run the Copperbelt and Midlands leagues adding that it had become more of a social event as there was no seriousness attached to it.
But Chama laughed at the accusations saying Phiri was just bitter because his contract was not renewed and that all reports concerning the happenings in ZCU have been well documented to the ICC and ACA.
“It is sad that someone can be saying we have failed to run the leagues when that is the sole responsibility of the affiliates and in this case the leagues are run by the Copperbelt and Midlands. ZCU runs the national team, U21, 19, 17, 15 and various developmental programmes and documentation is there for everyone to see.
“People should not just run to the media in a bid to bring about confusion by issuing statements which misrepresent facts. The gentlemen’s contracts were not renewed and they were paid until their last day which was July 31 and we wonder why they are complaining,” he said.
Chama said the ZCU can not renew an employee’s contract without giving reasons and advised the aggrieved parties to seek the labour office and industrial relations court if they feel hurt by the decision.
He said he was a proud president for the ZCU since taking over office as sanity has been brought into the running of the association unlike the case was in the past, by promoting good governance.
“We are aware of some people who have been writing the continental body under false names, giving wrong account of the happenings in Zambia but luckily we have nothing to hide as the ACA are aware of what we have been doing, money has been accounted for,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ZCU conducted a Level One hardball coaching course from last week at Lotus Primary School in Lusaka which attracted 17 participants drawn from various sectors of Lusaka.
ZCU committee member Judith Mbulo, who opened the course, urged the participants to put into practice what they learnt when they go back to their respective schools and teams.
The aim of the course was to broaden the coaches knowledge and for them to understand the basic fundamental principles and teaching methods involved in cricket.
The participants, among others issues, were taught how to conduct a coaching session and the fundamental cricket skills of batting using basic biomechanical principles.
Participants were also taught how to play various shots and running between the wicket including bowling fundamentals of using simple biomechanical principles and were introduced to the dangers of bowling and injury prevention.
Various fielding drills like catching, ground fielding and throwing were done during practical sessions using an outdoor court and wicket keeping drills were also put into practice.
Participants taught how to organise a net practice and safety precautionary measures to take.