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MASHONALAND Eagles have launched a grassroots development programme to identify and help groom future cricket stars at Harare Sports Club.

Eagles chief executive officer Hugo Ribatika said the long-term vision of the Junior Eagles project, which got underway last Saturday, is to establish an academy that would serve as a conveyor belt churning out talented players to both the franchise and the national teams.

"We started off with 50 students because we had not gone all out to create awareness since we first wanted to put structures in place before going full scale. Enrolment, however, is still on-going.

"The objective primarily is to create a sustainable feeder system for both the men and the women’s teams. In order for us to be able to achieve that goal, proper development structures need to be put in place.

"The reason why we came up with this programme is threefold. Firstly we do not feel kids play sufficient cricket in their respective schools.

"Secondly not all children who have the passion for cricket have the facilities in their schools and lastly it’s part of our efforts to preach the gospel of cricket to all stakeholders," said Ribatika.

Eagles have 18 coaches in their books and have the capacity to enrol 180 students for the clinics, which take place on Saturdays.

The clinics are being conducted by national women’s cricket team coach Sylvester Mutusva, Eagles ‘B’ team coach George Tandi, Lazarus Matora, Walter Musakwa and Eagles women coach Leonard Nhamburo.

"We are looking to give intensive coaching to the youngsters and we have a good student coach ration of one per every 10 children. The classes are divided into three main categories, which are basic, intermediate and advanced to ensure that each player is given intensive attention," he said.

The youngest class, the colts, consists children as young as five and they are taught the basics of cricket while the older ones of over 19 years will then be absorbed into the team structures if they meet the requirements. Eagles, who are home to players like Elton Chigumbura, Raymond Price and Greg Lamb are one of the most promising franchises and have done well in the previous season in which they also won the Logan Cup.

"Cricket is becoming very competitive these days and we have a development sub-committee to ensure that Eagles will always compete at the top.

"One of the board’s mandate is grassroots development and in line with our theme our primary goal is for every kid in the franchise to love cricket. We believe in sustainability and in building a firm foundation for the future," said Ribatika.