Read about CWB trained Botswana coach, Clement Chipanga’s work in the FrancisTown Centre for Deaf. The school is an area that CWB have worked and visited with and its great to see cricket developing! - Source www.africacricket.org

Botswana Cricket Association has grown to afford opportunities for disabled people to participate in this increasingly accessible sport. Just like any other school in the Development Programme in Francistown, The Centre for Deaf school in Francistown started playing cricket in March 2010.

The school, situated in the High Density suburb of Satellite boasts of a boarding facility and pupils can always play the sport during and after school or over the weekends as a group.

The school has seen its sports teacher, Mr Mphateng undergo the Botswana Cricket Association initiated basic playing and coaching skills course and he is responsible for their daily practices.

Cricket has been played by people with disabilities for many years. There is a well established structure for competitive cricket “from playground to test arena” A more recent initiative has been the development of cricket for people with a physical disability and also those with learning difficulties and Botswana Cricket Association has left no stone unturned in this regard.

It has been a learning curve for the Development Officer In learning the communication skills with this group of boys and girls. The sessions are of course, offered to both boys and girls. There has been a noticeable improvement in their cricket skills, but of course, this is aimed to be a long term project. It is perceived the school, with time,shall be part of the Development programme Under 11 and 13 league as they can match any other able bodied pupil regardless of their challenge in both hearing and speech

Though Northern Region Development Officer, Clement Chipanga finds communicating with the players challenging, I have eventually picked up a little bit of sign language and managed to impart basic skills to the students. An interpreter is vital as there is a possibility of them misunderstanding what we say if we have not communicated the matter to them clear enough.

Demonstrations play a major role in the coaching sessions and the recipients usually nod their head to signify the understanding of the concept being put across. Interestingly some modified sport specific signs for communication develop among the team members and help with communication during matches and training.