Cricket makes its first step into Cypriot primary schools

The 1999 domestic season in Cyprus starts later this month with a four-team Major Units' Cricket League. The League will comprise teams from Episkopi Garrison, Dhekelia Garrison, RAF Akrotiri, and the island's main civilian team, Moufflons C.C.

Moufflons (named after a rare mountain goat which inhabits the mountains of Cyprus), has been in existence for 10 years. Most of its players are British expatriates, although team captain, Darren Stubin, is an all-rounder from Sydney. It also has Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan team members. The only native Cypriot is treasurer, John Solonos, who spent most of his childhood in England.

The four teams from the Major Units' Cricket League will probably be joined in a Cup competition by a team from United Nations forces monitoring the Green Line, separating Greek and Turkish Cyprus.

The main event of the Cypriot season is the inter-service match in September between Army and RAF, which will this year become a triangular tournament with the inclusion of a 'Civvies' team, comprising Civil Servants and school-teachers who serve the military population.

Local Cypriots have no knowledge of the game, but cricket-playing members of the British Armed Forces are looking to change that. They were recently visited by coaches from Yorkshire Country Cricket Club. Stubin, Steve Carr and 17 other members of the BAF passed their Level One coaching course.

The MCC donated Kwik cricket equipment, which Stubing, Carr and the others have used to set up Childrens Fun Cricket Courses on RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia Garrison for 100 children from the British Forces community.

Similarly, they have visited three international schools in Limassol to give 400 primary school children their first ever taste of cricket. Kwki cricket equipment has been loaned to the local international schools in the hope they will set up their own clubs with the aim of extending cricket coaching to other schools.

The pleasant climate and economical price of visiting Cyprus makes it an attractive destination for cricket clubs. Should you be interested in visiting Cyprus to play cricket please contact: