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Blessing Malinganiza

HOKIMA Cricket Academy founder, Kudzai Mutiti believes the FOYA award they won in South Africa on Saturday will be a door for greater things.

Mutiti was crowned the winner of the 2024 FOYA Social Founder of the Year (Under 30) for establishing Hokima Cricket Academy in Marondera, which caters to upcoming cricketers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The FOYA awards seek to recognise and appreciate young founders contributing to the development of the African continent.

“Winning an award is a significant achievement for Hokima, and it holds great meaning for us as an organisation.

“We are excited about the potential partnerships and opportunities that lie ahead, as they will enable us to further enhance our coaching methods, facilities, and overall impact on the cricketing community,” said Mutiti.

Mutiti, who turns out for the English-based club Great-Houghton, believes that the recognition that the academy has received is a testament to the hard work that the academy has put in and will motivate the young kids to pursue their dreams.

“The recognition we have received is not only inspiring for us as an academy but also for the young individuals, who are a part of Hokima Cricket Academy.

“It serves as a testament to their efforts and encourages them to pursue their dreams in cricket with even more passion and determination.”

He added that the award has also challenged his academy to play a great role in creating and shaping future cricket stars.

“We understand that we have a greater role to play in shaping the future of cricket in our region.

“Winning this award has not only boosted our confidence but has also given us a platform to showcase our achievements and share our vision with a wider audience.

“We are now more determined than ever to continue our mission of providing exceptional cricket coaching and creating opportunities for aspiring cricketers,” said Mutiti.

The Great Houghton player has set his eyes on setting up a scholarship fund for the cricket academy in a bid to give exposure to upcoming players.

“We also aspire to create more opportunities for young cricketers to showcase their talent and compete at higher levels. This includes organising more local and regional tournaments, as well as facilitating participation in national and international competitions.

“We want to ensure that cricket is accessible to individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life and to achieve this, we plan to implement outreach programs, scholarships, and initiatives that encourage participation from under-represented communities,” he said.