Dar Eleven Cricket Players Excel

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Japheth Kazenga

29 April 2011

DAR ES SALAAM-based cricket outfit, Dar Eleven, capped a commanding performance in the just ended Regional U-17 tournament in Morogoro, after three of its players won all individual honours.

Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) organized the four-day event, which is the first ever regional competition at the junior level.

The objective is to promote the sport among local youth and identifying players for national junior teams.

Dar Eleven’s prolific batsman, Michael Kepha, emerged the best batsman of the tournament after recording a total of 64 runs, a performance that also marked his successful return to top form.

Other players, Faraji Athuman and Abdallah Mustafa, took the best bowler and the best all rounder awards respectively.

Out of the three, Athuman looked to have specifically achieved a memorable feat as he was making his debut appearance in a competitive regional junior tournament.

The promising spinner, who also plays for Kawe B Primary School in the TCA Junior League, took a total of 10 wickets in a fantastic bowling performance that ascertained his status as a player to watch in domestic junior cricket tournaments.

Mustafa, who is Kepha’s team mate in the Academy Boys Development team that competes in TCA club events, wrapped up Dar Eleven’s near-perfect displays when he was declared the tournament’s best all rounder.

Mustafa has all along been a reliable performer with both the bat and ball for Academy Boys Development in various leagues and has also been frequently playing for the team’s senior side, Academy Boys A, in which his contribution in the team has been equally tremendous.

Dar Eleven, which was a strong favourite for the trophy right from the start, lost only one match against one of the tournament’s hosts, Uluguru Stars, on the way to the final.

The two teams met in the final and it was Dar Eleven that eventually came out smiling after securing a three-wicket win, revenging for its previous defeat in the process.

Kawe B Primary School cricket team’s coach, Osman Bairu, poured lots of praises to Athuman, saying the youngster’s success in Morogoro resulted from hard work and determination.

“Athuman had earlier been left out of the Dar Eleven squad but then got a last minute call up when the team had already left for Morogoro, so, he had to travel alone to the event,” said Bairu.

Other teams that participated in the tournament were Arusha Kilimeru, Twiga Juniors and the hosts’ other team, Moro Stars.

Twiga Juniors came third after winning two matches and losing the remaining as Moro Stars settled for the fourth position with one victory and four defeats. Arusha Kilimeru finished last after losing all matches.

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