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Zimbabwe cricket regains fans base

Harare



HARARE — The Zimbabwe Cricket franchise system has seen an increase in the public's interest towards the game of cricket.
This has been judged by the increase in attendance at local matches. The body through its franchises has been aggressively marketing the game and their efforts are starting to show.
In the recently ended Masvingo's Southern Rocks eight-day tour of duty to Bulawayo, it has been established that cricket is slowly regaining its spot as the second most popular sport in the country. This was evidenced by the fact that there was a huge improvement on the terraces in this match.
In the past these local matches would be played in empty stadiums but this attendance has improved by at least 85 percent, according to ZC. After the introduction of the Franchise system by the country's cricket governing body it has increased awareness on the game of cricket thus improving the appreciation from the general public.
Media and Communications Manager southern Region Godfrey Koti has applauded the cricket enthusiasts that attended the Tuskers and Southern Rocks matches.
“We have never recorded such a crowd in a local match; this was the first of a kind. This shows how much people appreciate the Franchise system and its improvements,” said Koti.
In Saturday's match Tuskers lost to Rocks by eight runs, a crowd of approximately 500 to 700 thronged Queens Sports Club. Koti also revealed that a Tuskers Supporters Union was to be launched soon.
“We are in the process of working modalities of setting up a Union for our fans through our Branding and Marketing Department here at Tuskers, with the hope of improving from where we are in terms of generating more public interest in the game,” he added.
Another factor that has seen the improvement of the public's interest has been the involvement of household names like Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu, Dave Houghton, Chris Mpofu, Mululeki Nkala, Ray Price, Dion Ebrahim amongst other stars. Givemore Makoni Chief Executive Officer for the Rocks was quoted as saying “judging from the crowd we had the past week, l can confirm the Franchise System is beginning to bear fruit.”
Meanwhile, Tuskers have announced it's B team to take on the Kwekwe based Midwest Rhinos B. The match begins tomorrow at Bulawayo Athletics Club. Terrence Duffin who is set to make a come back after a back injury will captain the side with Mark Vermeulen hoping to impress his employer and get an A side call up. Dumisani Mankunzini will provide the spin effect on the team and Mbekezeli Mabuza who has been struggling with form will also get a chance to bat his way to the top.
The A team is away to Kwekwe for a date with the Mid West Rhinos. Captain Gavin Ewing is hoping his charges will carry on with the form they displayed against Rocks. Chris Mpofu,Tawanda Mupariwa, John Nyumbu, Keegan Meth and new boy Gerald Aliseni will lead the bowling attack while Dion Ebrahim, Keith Dabengwa, Sean Williams and Charles Coventry are expected to shine with the bat.
TUSKERS A
G.Ewing, S,Williams, D.Ebrahim, G.Strydom, K.Dabengwa, K.Meth,C.Coventry,C.Mpofu,T.Mupariwa, J.Nyumbu, G.Aliseni,T.Madhiri

TUSKERS B
T.Duffin,B.Mujuru, T.Ngulube, M.Mabuza, M,Wiliams,M.Vermeulen, T.Chipare, T.Mboyi,