In its effort to take cricket to the next level, Cricket Namibia (CN) hosted a multitude of training programs – including umpiring courses, coaching Level 1 and Kwata courses – in Oranjemund over the last weekend.
With beautiful weather and many interested players, it was a perfect day to get the town started, as they look to enter the national club league in September.
Steven Berry, Cricket Namibia’s Development Manager, was there to conduct the Level 1 course as well as the Kwata cricket for the youngsters, while Wynand Louw, Senior Umpire on the Namibian Umpires panel, conducted the Umpires course.
“Oranjemund has some of the best facilities in Namibia, and will it be fantastic to get cricket up and running there again. It’s such a unique place. Plus, I have heard so many wonderful stories about how brilliant it was for players to go on a tour to Oranjemund back in the day. The people are some of the friendliest people that you will ever meet, and make you feel right at home,” Berry remarked after his work.
The development manager continued: “There are so many people who are really keen to get the town’s cricket up and running. There were roughly 50 players between the ages of 7 and 12 years old which is very exciting. And then the club players managed to have 23 players attending the session, and there was some serious talent there. Players such as Lilo Geiseb, Paul Blaauw and Johan Laubscher certainly have the skill to play very competitive Premier League cricket, as they bowl with aggression and pace, and generate good swing.”
Oranjemund Cricket Club are very excited about the prospects of their club moving forward and are now planning a cricket social day on the weekend of the 25th of May. Swakopmund Cricket Club is also looking to have a club tour at the end of July.
Furthermore they would like to host a tournament come September, involving numerous clubs before the club league starts. With all this said, it seems like great things are to come from the enthusiasts from the far south, and as one can see they are serious about where they want to be, and they could be a major threat for the teams in the 2015/ 2016 club league.
Cricket Namibia will also attempt to get another clinic done before the next season starts.
