THE much acclaimed Heath Streak Multi-Sports Academy was launched at Bulawayo’s MacDonald Sports Club yesterday.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA
Streak, a former Zimbabwe international cricket all-rounder and captain said the academy would not focus on cricket only, but will include other sporting disciplines.
“When I was young my biggest dream was to play for Zimbabwe. The future of Zimbabwe and for our cricket is to make sure that some of us who have had that privilege can impact onto the next generation because that is the future.
“Sport unifies. Kids do not look at colour or where one is from they just want to play sport. Sport in Bulawayo has taken a little bit of a back seat against Harare for obvious reasons. But I am very privileged and proud that we have been able to do this in Bulawayo. I thank the corporates who have been mentioned for their support. It is great that Bulawayo where I am from where my heart is can have such a wonderful facility and hopefully we can build on it,” Streak said.
Streak thanked the support he has been getting from various stakeholders. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa who was the guest of honour said he was proud to be part of significant event in the city.
“It is not a secret that Zimbabweans love good sport but sadly have to consume mediocre if not poor local sport. Our teams are like tea-bags they do not stay long in the ‘cup’ of international competitions. We have to acknowledge our collective responsibility in all this and boldly face the challenge with a forehead to resolve it,” he said.
“Sports is part of Zimbabwe’s exclusive industries. This is so because of lack of sound grassroots sport development programmes and infrastructure. We as a nation are keen to get to the top in international glory yet we miss the early stages of developing sport,” he said.
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He said they will support new academies that will also come up. “The Heath Streak Multidisciplinary Sport Academy should be the first in a number of academies that should be developed in the nation.
“We will certainly support them. We still need more developments in the former country clubs where some have turned golf courses into either grazing land or some potato plantations,” he said.
