Kids' cricket bounces back

ASPIRING young cricketers are being invited to join the Seychelles Cricket Association's youth coaching programme, starting this Saturday April 17, from 10 a.m till 12 noon, at Freedom Square.

Organised by the association following the success of a similar coaching course last year, the youngsters training programme is intended to attract more young Seychellois to the sport.

The 2003 coaching sessions started out with a small number of mostly International School and Independent School pupils taking part, but quickly grew to over 70 participants from across Mahé's schools.

This year, the coaching is being conducted by Luckstars' top batsman Tim Horpinitch, with the assistance of other senior national squad members.

According to coach Horpinitch, the perception among many people is that cricket is still an expatriate-dominated game, but that the truth of the matter is very different, with Seychellois making up the vast majority of the senior squad.

He explained that one of the aims of the kids coaching course is to further dispel this image by getting as many young Seychellois as possible involved in the sport.

Horpinitch said that he hoped that cricket would soon emulate the local basketball scene, with over 90 percent of players being Seychellois and only a handful of foreign players lending their skills.

The coaching course will focus on basic bowling, catching and batting skills and is open to youngsters of all ages. To avoid the risk of injury, a tennis ball will be used in place of a much harder cricket ball, as well as specially made kids' cricket equipment, supplied by the International Cricket Council.

If sufficient interest is generated by the coaching course, Horpinitch said that the association hoped to develop some junior teams as well as look into the possibility of approaching the Ministry of Education and Youth to promote cricket in schools.

The coaching sessions will take place fortnightly at Freedom Square.