The Sierra Leone Under-19 Cricket team is preparing to participate in two international tournaments later this year, a new arena to showcase their skills on the global stage and inspire young cricketers in Sierra Leone.
Cricket Sierra Leone's recently hired South African high-tech coach, Kenneth Masinga, is perfecting the drives and deliveries of the Under-19 boys as they prepare to participate in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania later this July.
To sort out issues around acclimatization and to put the new selection to a foreign test prior to the end-of-July preliminary qualification, 14 players along with Coach Masinga and a Team Manager will depart the shores of Sierra Leone on July 16 for Tanzania for a week-long training before the qualification commences.
The squad will undergo further workouts on the foreign soil and will play a series of matches with local clubs before the start of the six-nation tournament.
According to the Media department of SLCA, the winner in this African segment will progress to the World Cup.
Next to the Tanzania Cricket Showpiece is the Senior Men's ACA T20 Cup-North Africa Qualifiers, scheduled for August in South Africa. Six countries will battle for the top two that will enter the All African finals slated for September in South Africa.
Back home, Cricket Sierra Leone is working hard to secure the support of the government in order to give the team the best possible chance of success.
The government's support would be a huge boost for the team to deliver national victories and would help to calm the nerves of the country's cricket fans.
The participation of Sierra Leone in the respective tournaments will not only showcase the country's cricketing prowess on a global stage but also will serve as an inspiration for the countless young cricketers who dream of representing Sierra Leone in the future.
"Sierra Leone Cricket Association believes that by supporting their national teams, the government will be encouraging the growth of cricket in our country and nurturing the potential of our young athletes.
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