Victor Mhlanga
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) has elevated Victor Mhlanga to the position of Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise’s development manager, filling the post left by Vumi Moyo, who is now a ZC board member.
Mhlanga will be in charge of development programmes in Bulawayo as well as Matabeleland North provinces and will report to ZC’s director of development Givemore Makoni in Harare.
Matabeleland Tuskers’ chief executive officer Stanley Staddon said Mhlanga, a former assistant area manager, had lots of experience in cricket development and is confident that he will deliver.
“Mhlanga is not new to development having been first appointed Bulawayo’s development manager in 2007. He has been extensively involved in development, dealing mostly with schools’ cricket. As Tuskers we wish him well and we’ll support him in his work,” said Staddon.
Mhlanga, who begins his new role this morning by conducting a training workshop for coaches, scorers, umpires and schools’ representatives at Queens Sports Club, said he was excited about the new job as he believes there is enormous talent in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North.
“I’m very honoured to be trusted with the duties of leading cricket development in this part of the country. I believe in team work and it’s possible to get cricket to the top,” said Mhlanga.
He added: “Development starts at schools and we shall be casting the net to western areas and other places in the provinces as we try to give talented players a chance to shine. Implementing similar programmes to the one that led us to discover the likes of Christopher Mpofu and Tawanda Mupariwa, among others, is key towards development of the sport.”
Mpofu, a national team pace bowler, is one of the celebrated cricketers to emerge from the western suburbs. The lanky bowler hails from Magwegwe.