Who is ultimate coach?

Editorial Comment
I FOLLOWED what I thought was a really interesting debate on social media about coaches and which one deserves the most credit.

I FOLLOWED what I thought was a really interesting debate on social media about coaches and which one deserves the most credit.

– Vumi Moyo

This week I will take a look at some of the issues and as always On The Crease will let you draw up your own conclusions.

I also chat to Christopher Mpofu on his immediate future.

The issue came up when someone congratulated former national bowling coach, Heath Streak for his role in Tendai Chatara’s career after the latter’s fiver won Zimbabwe the second Test match against Pakistan.

Someone else then responded: “How can you talk about Streak and not mention George Thandi, who coached him throughout his entire high school career?”

This debate has been on for a long time. To let everyone have a chance to get involved: Who had the most impact in shaping the person you are today, your primary school teacher, your high school teacher or your university lecturer?

Thandi, a former fast bowler himself, has worked with a lot of the bowlers coming out of the capital and players have great respect for him.

I would have loved to ask Chatara himself, but would not want to put that much pressure on the young man. I am sure they both had an impact on turning him into the fine bowler he has become so early in Test career.

Another bowler picking up wickets for fun enters this debate. Having spent most of his career under the mentorship of Tuskers assistant coach Pollock Mubhobho at Milton High School, Bulawayo, many believe he is largely responsible for Brian Vitori’s success.

Former national team captain Tatenda Taibu, however, feels West Indian coach Monty Lynch, who spent a couple of seasons at Rocks turned Vitori from a very good bowler to a great one.

Most of the coaches in the earlier part of a career are responsible for the majority of the knowledge and skill factor.

At the top level one often finds coaches correct a small detail which changes the player from good to excellent.

I will let you draw your own conclusions if you e-mail me your thoughts on this subject.

– I had the privilege of umpiring at the Annual Whitestone Cricket Tournament this past weekend and was humbled to see how boys I had earlier coached had turned into serious players.

Some of the skill factor shown was very promising. A lot of observers afterwards were wondering what happens to all this talent.

The general view was the talent was lost at tertiary level. As stated before, none of our institutions of higher learning are sports-orientated. One parent asked if any university in this country had ever given out a sport scholarship.

It was hoped that the new Sport ministry could address this, among other issues. If this is not addressed a lot of children would be lost to institutions abroad where sport development is taken very seriously I was humbled by the interest shown by parents in their children’s careers. They were there from as early as 7am till 5pm cheering their children, some with video cameras and the works.

– Tuskers had their first meeting and indications are that former National Team wicket keeper Wayne James will take over from Streak as coach.

Conspicuous by his absence was national team bowler Christopher Mpofu. He has more than 200 first-class wickets and 20 at Test level.

Mpofu said he had received some offers from abroad which he was exploring, but was quick to mention his country would always come first.

He lost his place in the National Team after an injury and has since struggled to get back into the side. Mpofu’s dilemma is not helped by the fact that others are all bowling out of their boots currently.

There have been some suggestions that not taking the new ball at his franchise was not helping his cause.

Whatever he chooses, I hope he will be back in the national team soon doing what he knows best.

He has been working hard with Gary Brent at the academy and is confident of making the Twenty20 World Cup side. He has no issues with the coaches and selectors as suggested in some circles.

We like Mpofu because he has shown that a little boy out of the dusty streets of Magwegwe suburb in Bulawayo can go all the way and be successful at this game.

He has made a huge impact to all the little children in suburbs aspiring to wear the famous red shirt one day.

– The Champions League got under way this week, as if they do not have enough cricket. As with the last World Cup and IPL, India are once again hosts.

More on this tournament next week as it reaches the business end. I will try and answer why teams from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh are not considered even for the qualifiers.