Taibu to launch Zim Cricket Academy based in Merseyside!

[CrimsonAvenger]

More write-ups about the Merseyside excursion, withour treading into "how" part of the story: http://www.thecricketpaper.com/news/int ... erseyside/

May be its all to be deciphered. Does it mean that Zimbabwe cricket "side" would be at anyone's "mercy" at the end of this?

[Flakeman]

Does anyone know the squad for this thing?

[Googly]

I guarantee it's known already.

[Googly]

With finance problems, player strikes, lack of facilities and a sparse fixture list waiting, it appears fortunate that Taibu is a born optimist.

“It’s going to be hard but I’m sure with the team I’ve got around me I’ll be able to manage,” he said. “With any sport, if you can sort out the playing field you have half the issues sorted. The way I’m going about it is to sort out the playing fields and the number of players first. Whilst doing that I’ll also sort out the structures of our cricket and make sure the administration side of things is smoother.

“I think how long it takes is dependent on how people take on the ideas I have got. We need to move along together so the moment I get everyone buying into the structure that I want to put in place, the quicker we will be able to get back to where we are supposed to be.”

This part tells the story. We lack facilities, but there's investment in an offshore academy yet none towards one here?
He's acknowledging that Admin are a problem generally but he's working on it. This is a helluva statement in itself.
It also doesn't sound like it's a done deal yet. I'm not seeing how you're going to find clubs and accommodation for 21 players in reasonably close proximity to Merseyside. Burl and anyone else who have played FC are going to need Tier 5 visas, that's not going to be easy unless there's co-operation from ECB. Maybe there's ICC money specifically available for this and they feel it will be better spent there than sending it here where it will not be spent appropriately? I find this intriguing. There's more to this than meets the eye.
If this flies it will be a great experience for the guys chosen though.

[Googly]

I was idly trying to add up ball park costs for this offshore academy-

23 return tickets @500 ea 23000
Accom 500/m per player for 6 months. 63000
Food 300/m for 6 months 38000
Transport 5/day per player. 19000
Coaches salary 1500x2 for 6 months. 18000

There's plenty I've left out and maybe some of these expenses are far off the mark but that's £161 000 but their budget is probably closer to £250k.
In the scheme of things it's not a lot of money, but when you see the CFX academy empty and lying idle and all the nets at the various clubs in total disrepair and our dearth of facilities here then you have to question their priorities and if there's an ulterior motive.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I wouldn't spend too much time worrying Googly. I suspect this idea will go the way of the Victoria Falls stadium and the HSC floodlights.

[aydee]

I was idly trying to add up ball park costs for this offshore academy-

23 return tickets @500 ea 23000
Accom 500/m per player for 6 months. 63000
Food 300/m for 6 months 38000
Transport 5/day per player. 19000
Coaches salary 1500x2 for 6 months. 18000

There's plenty I've left out and maybe some of these expenses are far off the mark but that's £161 000 but their budget is probably closer to £250k.
In the scheme of things it's not a lot of money, but when you see the CFX academy empty and lying idle and all the nets at the various clubs in total disrepair and our dearth of facilities here then you have to question their priorities and if there's an ulterior motive.

For the record, I agree. However... it is possible (theoretically) that some of this could be recovered from the UK clubs who these guys would be playing for.

[auszim]

For those interested in deal announced with Academy

https://www.facebook.com/ninjasporting/ ... 9934918338

[zimfan1]

This is happening, fixtures announced against a number of county second XIs.

Burl, Musakanda, Taffy Muparwira, Mumba, Mashingwe, Kamunhukame and Thamsanqa Nunu (18 year old Bulawayo boy) all part of the squad.

Players and trying to gain club contracts with clubs in the north west as the academy games will be in the week leaving them free for club cricket at the weekend.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Hmm, interesting names there. Some almost certain of regularly wearing national colors now, like Mumba, Burl and Musakanda. So, if and when they are called up for national duty, would we have replacements for them in the academy side? What would be the number of folks being sent? Eagerly waiting for the final list announcement...

Also, good work, Ninja Sporting.