Former Zimbabwe cricket star Elton Chigumbura’s academy has spread its wings and set up base at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) with the hope of unearthing and nurturing fresh talent in the province.
The 35 year-old former national team skipper retired from international cricket during Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan last year, having been part of the national team set up for 16 years.
After his retirement, Chigumbura immediately signaled his intentions to give back to the game which gave him both fame and fortune by launching the academy was launched in Harare early this year with the aim of aiding the development of the game in the country.
The academy, which has been holding clinics around the country is based at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare’s high density suburb of Highfield, where he grew up and at Old Hararians Sports Club also in the capital.
The academy enrolls players between the ages of six and 23, both male and female.
Shane Chigumbura, who runs operations in Bulawayo, said they have been encouraged by the growth of the academy in Bulawayo.
“We are growing with each day. We are getting players each day and the most exciting thing is we are not only having boys come our way, but girls as well. The plan is to spread to other places across the country over time,” he said in an interview with The Chronicle.
“The academy aims to teach other aspects of the game so that if one fails to become a professional player, they can choose other cricket-related careers.
At the moment we are stationed at BAC, but plans are in progress to also open a base at Emakhandeni,” Chigumbura said.
In addition to running his academy Elton Chigumbura was also recently appointed as talent scouts for the national team along with former pace bowler Kyle Jarvis.
According to Zimbabwe Cricket, the duo are responsible for identifying, nurturing and mentoring young players from the grassroots level up to the development pathway before they can be selected for the national team.