Argentine cricket seeking young New Zealand player/coaches

Argentine cricket officials are seeking the assistance of interested young New Zealanders to assist in the development of cricket in their country. They would be expected to play and coach while in that country.

The Argentinian working holiday scheme can be used by players looking to take up the opportunity and the Argentine Cricket Association have been working with the New Zealand Embassy in Buenos Aires to try and attract young cricketers who might looking to play some cricket while learning Spanish, and `1while also coaching in some of the well-equipped Argentine schools.

Gaston Arizaga, gastonarizaga@hotmail.com, the Argentine Cricket Association's administration officer, said they were hopeful of getting up to eight players to pay their own way to Argentina, but to be employed as coaches to cover food and living costs. The season lasts from about November to March, with 15 days of holidays between Christmas and New Year. The players would be living and working Buenos Aires, although there would be some chance of coaching in centres like Rosario and Mar del Plata.

"The work consists of coaching schools and clubs, elite development squads and, depending on their coaching experience and level of coaching, training senior teams in schools and clubs. They will also be helping with the junior leagues, as coaches and umpires. We would like them to play in our leagues, first division has six clubs and competitive, while second division is more social and involves young cricketers who need advice. Work would be for about five hours a day, Tuesday to Saturday, with a match on Sundays, and most of Monday free," Arizaga said.

David Luxton, New Zealand's Consul in Buenos Aires, has a son playing in the leagues and said the administrators in Argentina were doing a remarkable job in promoting cricket without a lot of reward. Information on the working holiday scheme is available at www.arg.org.nz under consular information then visas.