Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Baseball Association (ZBA) will soon embark on a countrywide “back to basics” trainers’ coaching programme following the failure by local players to impress at the Major League Baseball (MLB) trials held in Bulawayo and Harare. MLB consultant Mike Randall and South African-based baseball coach Americo Juma conducted the trails at Hamilton High School and Harare last week to select players for an elite camp to be held in Cape Town in December.
Players that make the grade in the trials held across Africa will play against European, Asian and American teams at the end of year festival in Cape Town.
Morris Banda, acting ZBA president, said Randall indicated that local players had the potential, but there were a number of fundamentals about baseball that they still needed to learn.
“According to the report we got, our players are athletic but they need to be taught and understand the fundamentals of how to throw the ball, how to catch the ball, how to hit the ball and how to run,” said Banda.
“The potential is there and what we need to do is teach the coaches the basics. We have already had one training clinic and we hope to do more so that players grasp the fundamentals.
“MLB have even offered to hold coaching clinics for us and we shall be advising participants in due course,” he said.
In his report, Juma said lack of game time affected the Bulawayo-based players.
“The challenge for these players is that they do not get enough matches, proper coaches, coaching courses, equipment and funding. The players are good athletes and have the potential and with practice, more games and knowledgeable coaches, they can make it,” said Juma.