PUMZILE Kungwayo is well known in the townships, when it comes to township schools’ girls’ cricket development.
Kungwayo identifies talent mainly in U/13 and U/19 township schools’ girls. According to Kungwayo, the schools’ adoption programme is run by Eastern Province Cricket (EPC).
Kungwayo has been involved in the programme since 2005 under the guidance of the former EPC manager, Tono Mle.
He stated that the aim of the programme was to develop cricket in the township schools.
Kungwayo explained, “It all started in Kwadwesi and since then there is a resounding success.
“When I relocated to Kwazakhele, I worked with Sipho Hashe cricket coach, Nowethu Gonyela. Thereafter, we formed a schools’ cricket forum, which is a link between school coaches and EPC.
“Mle gave me the responsibility of developing township girls’ U/13 cricket and later, with EPC, assisting Gugu Ndulama, EPC KFC coordinator, Mpumelelo Silwana, and Addney Coltman.”
The major roles and responsibilities of Kungwayo are coordination of township cricket programmes, to assist youth coordinators with township development, coaching assistance, schools’ talent identification, to make sure that there are more than four schools that are participate in the U/13 girls’ league, to make sure that at least two township high schools take part in the U/19 league and to coach and identify talent for hubs and later RPC.
He revealed that he was introducing KFC Mini Cricket basic skills to primary schools that would later on go to hubs and RPC. He also stated that he was helping with information regarding cricket development.
Kungwayo said, “Currently, we have 10 primary schools from Kwazakhele, and one primary school each from Kwadwesi and KwaMagxaki, which are actively involved in our mini cricket programme.
“Eight boys from Kwazakhele are in the New Brighton hub and are active in the schools’ league.
“We have produced some star players who represented the region in the higher levels.
“The major challenge is that some companies are reluctant to fund the development programme of cricket in the township schools. Be that as it may, the programme is growing in leaps and bounds.”
