Female cricket players invited to Elite Academy

FOUR female Namibian cricket players were invited to the ICC-Africa Regional Office’s Senior Women’s Elite Cricket Academy from 11 to 14 February in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The aim of the academy is to enhance the players’ cricket skills as well as motivate and enhance women’s participation in cricket in Africa.The four players who were invited are Anneri van Schoor, who captained the team at the African T20 competition held in Uganda recently, Irene van Zyl (vice captain), Carmin Liebenberg (wicket keeper) and Loraine Brink (opening batsman).Carmel Donn was also selected but will not be able to attend because she will be representing Namibia in a Fifa U/20 Women’s World Cup qualifier match against Ghana.The players are among 24 who were selected based on their performances at the African T20 competition held in December in Kampala, where Namibia finished third.The players will undergo extensive cricket coaching under the experience and expertise of Feizal Kimmie, who is the senior development officer for the ICC-Africa regional office.The Elite Academy will also be a vigorous test of the cricket skills on all participants.Marsia Reed from Cricket Namibia said the academy would be regarded as part of the preparation for a tournament which will take place later in the year.’Cricket Namibia is proud of these cricket players being invited and our best wishes to them at the Elite Academy,’ Reed said.’This will be regarded as preparation for Namibia’s women’s team participating in the Africa Regional T20 Women’s tournament in Kenya in December,’ she added.- namibiapsort.com.na