Streak Academy to Improve Sport Standards

SPORTING standards in the country are set to improve for the better following the establishment of an academy in Bulawayo by former Zimbabwe international cricketer Heath Streak.

The Academy, which boasts world class training sports facilities, provides young players with improved facilities in sporting disciplines such as cricket, rugby, swimming and gymnastics.

The centre, which is located at Bulawayo's MacDonald Sports Club, will also promote cricket and other sports in less -privileged environs such as rural areas and western suburbs.

"Through this academy we hope to identify and nurture talent in schools in the high density suburbs. At the moment cricket has been mainly confined to elite schools because of the expensive nature of the sport," said Streak in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com.

"We want to integrate these schools with the elite schools so that they can form one cricket league where all schools can participate competitively."

The academy started offering periodic and regular sports training courses in the second week of last December.

So far, 60 students have enrolled with the centre which is also part of the Heath Streak Consultancy and Sports Foundation.

"We have just finished concluding a 30-year lease agreement with MacDonald Sports Club who own the property.

"We have already started offering courses in cricket which are being conducted by our head coach, Gravine Ewing, a holder of level three coaching certificate from Australia," said the former right-handed batsman.

We hope to identify and nurture talent in schools ... Heath Streak

Streak said the academy has so far received an overwhelming response from students from as far as Pakistani, Australia, India and the United Kingdom with many people in those countries keen to enroll with the centre.

The Academy has also recruited renowned ex-swimmer, Ashley Galsworthy who will be in charge of swimming training programmes. Training age groups will start from five years old boys up to adults.

Apart from offering training facilities, the academy also offers internet services, quality food and a leisure zone where families can relax while their kids are training.

Streak paid tribute to local companies who have supported the initiative among them, McDonald Bricks, Davis Granite, SPAR, Colbro Transport, Dulux Paints, Fence Africa, National Fencing and prominent Bulawayo businessman Raj Modi.

After spending 20 years playing for the national team, Streak hopes the academy will form part of his legacy in sport for the country.

"I believe that this vision of mine will bear positive results in the near future by churning out top class players. My wish is also to see cricket growing its popularity in the country like soccer," he said.

Streak who is the son of former cricket legend, Denis Streak was born in Bulawayo in 1974.

Until his retirement from international cricket in 2005, Streak was the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 test wickets.