Photo Credit: Lions Cricket
Johannesburg – In an ongoing effort to improve and increase the number of blind cricket coaches in both Gauteng and South Africa, Lions Cricket have given the go ahead for a coaching course in line with the blind cricket coaching manual received from both Blind Cricket South Africa and the World Blind Cricket Council. The manual which will serve as the course guideline, gives greater insight into blind cricket including bowling, batting, fielding and blind cricket at large.
Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright is incredibly proud that once again Lions Cricket are pioneers and leaders in the countries cricketing landscape;
“I burst with pride at our Lions Family members Dumile Skade, Reuben Mandlazi and Lions Blind Cricket President Isaac Bidla. These conscientious individuals have worked tirelessly and now find themselves piloting this project for the future of our Union and for Cricket South Africa going forward. It’s all about opportunity and the creation thereof: And this course and implementation of it’s learnings, will create many opportunities for all those wanting to enter into the game and grow their game.”
Isaac Bidla, who is also the President of Blind Cricket South Africa and Captain of the South African National Team (Proteas Blind) in One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket, says that this is a huge step in the right direction;
“The person that qualifies, will be able to coach both blind cricket and sighted cricket. One of the objectives of Blind Cricket South Africa is to develop qualified coaches in South Africa with the purpose of improving the standard of blind coaches and assisting South African blind cricket coaches. We believe that Lions Cricket is one of the best organisations to lead such courses, with the assistance of Blind Cricket South Africa and CSA.”
Cricket Service Manager for Lions Cricket Reuben Mandlazi says that it’s exciting times for the entire cricketing fraternity and Lions Cricket to be hosting the blind cricket course as a pilot project.
“We continue to challenge ourselves to grow the coaching database as an important element of the pipeline. Coaches play a critical role in the development of players wholistically. Through this course, we will be able to determine where the gaps are regarding the delivery of the course so we can make our coaching education programmes more inclusive.”
Coaching Manager Lions Cricket, Dumile Skade concludes;
“The three-day course for the Visually Impaired candidates commenced at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium on Tuesday 19 July. Our inaugural course will no doubt bring with it immense learnings and I hope tremendous growth not just for this course, but for the many courses and learners going forward. Leading from the front is The Lions Way.”
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