By GWEN CHIPASULA  –
ZAMBIA Cricket Union (ZCU) president Reuben Chama says 2015 was a successful year that saw the number of participants now playing the sport swell to well over 9,000.
But despite recording that feat, Chama said the ZCU was not yet satisfied as it wants to abolish the playing of social cricket to competitive games by ensuring more locals are involved in the game.
Reviewing the year ended, Chama said he was happy that the sport continued to grow steadily following the launch of cricket in colleges and universities, a move which has cheered the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“The year 2015 was successful though it had its own challenges but we are happy that we launched the sport in colleges and universities meaning there will be a transition from the primary schools where boys and girls are playing softball till they start playing hardball at a senior level,” he said.
He said the Zambia Under-19 participation at the T20 invitational tournament in Mozambique, which was a senior event, was a good outing for the players who got the needed exposure.
On the challenges, Chama bemoaned that not so many locals have been accorded the opportunity to play the sport and that the ZCU found a solution towards the end of the year to end the problem.
He said this year the ZCU will ensure that the country did away with social cricket by ensuring that upcoming players are given a chance to play competitive games after graduating from the developmental programmes.
Chama said the onus will be on affiliate members to open up by incorporating young players into their teams so that the game becomes competitive especially that the sport is now being played at schools, colleges as well as universities.
He said ZCU intends to continue spreading the game this year by integrating the Zambia Police Service, adding that his union will set up meetings with the director of sport to see how best this could be done.
“There is need to abolish this social cricket being played so that players can start playing competitive cricket. Affiliate should open up doors and allow new and young players join their clubs so that the game can be played competitively,” he said.
Chama said the ZCU is in dire need of equipment to sustain the various programmes that have been implemented and financially over stretched and called on companies and individuals to come forward and see how best they can assist.
He said the ZCU needs to have human resource to coach  kids in the sports in the various provinces and paying them salaries is one big challenge that needed concerted efforts.