Mozambique

History of cricket in Mozambique

Portuguese-speaking Mozambique is one of the few sub-Saharan countries where, due to colonial history, cricket was never an established game. Dominated by soccer, Mozambique only occasionally saw cricket being played on a very casual basis by immigrants and foreign residents from southern Asia, the UK and South Africa.

In the early 1990s, the management at the British-owned Hotel Cardoso launched an annual soft ball cricket tournament where various teams (who had generally formed because of their shared nationality) started taking part. In 1995 the Indian High Commission started a similar annual tournament known as the India Independent Cup.

ICC Regional Development Officer Hoosain Ayob visited the country in 1999 and 2000 to guide Mozambique cricket into an organisation under ICC Cricket Development Program guidelines. The Mozambican Cricket Association was launched in 2001, was officially recognised by the Mozambique government in March 2002 and became an Affiliate member of the ICC in 2003.

International competition
Mozambique finished as Plate champions in the ICC Africa WCQS (Affiliate) tournament in 2004. In 2006, they were ICC Africa WCL (Affiliate) champions and finished third in the 2006 ICC Africa WCL tournament for Associates behind Tanzania and Botswana. At junior level Mozambique has participated in the ICC under 15 tournament in Namibia. Several international friendlies have also been played at both senior and junior level.

Domestic competition

At senior level domestic competitions include: the National Cricket League, the Mozal Cricket League and the India Cup knockout tournament. At junior level there are inter- and intra-schools under 15 and under 17 tournaments, played under the National Commission for School Cricket. An AMC development team is selected from the best schools players, up to the age of 19, to participate in the National Cricket League and other tournaments.

Development program

Under the National Commission for School Cricket (an arm of the Mozambican Cricket Association, which works in collaboration with the Ministry of Education) students from 22 schools have been exposed to cricket, from grassroots to under 17 level. Out of these 22 schools, 19 are government schools, meaning 99 per cent of the students are indigenous.

Physical education teachers are the main force behind grassroots development. They have attended various coaching and umpiring courses and workshops, organised by the Mozambican Cricket Association and the ICC Africa Development Program.

Women’s cricket

Since 2005, Mozambique has conducted introductory and grassroots cricket development among schoolgirls. In 2006, the National Commission for School Cricket was expanded to include women’s cricket and there has been a tremendous response from girls interested in learning to play the game.

Charity work

The UNAIDS awareness program has already been introduced in several schools in Mozambique and the National Commission for School Cricket’s development program uses the same concept when introducing cricket to other school bodies.