C Bryden: Ayob spreads word in Africa (10 Aug 1997)

August 10 1997

Ayob spreads word in Africa

by Colin Bryden

HOOSAIN Ayob was once a fast bowler who cut great swathes through opposing batting line-ups. His next assignment will be to win vast tracts of territory for cricket.

Ayob has been nominated as the International Cricket Council's development officer for Africa. Provided the ICC accept a proposal from the United Cricket Board of South Africa, the former star of SACBOC cricket will take up his post on October 1 with a mandate to promote cricket in 14 countries. Provided the ICC agree to a budget of R500 000, UCB president Krish Mackerdhuj, in his capacity as president of the African Cricket Association, will be able to unveil a detailed development plan when he attends a meeting of the ACC in Harare later this month.

Ayob, who became a school headmaster in Lenasia after his playing days for Transvaal, has been the UCB's director of coaching since 1987.

His main role has been to produce coaches, with 20 000 teachers, mainly black and many of them women, having been shown the rudiments of coaching. Many have progressed to become dedicated coaches.

"There could be no better person to institute programmes in Africa. It will be real missionary work," said Dr Ali Bacher, who headed the ICC's development committee which devised a plan for the ICC to promote cricket on a regional basis throughout the world.

Initially, Ayob will concentrate on 14 countries, all of which already play cricket to a greater or lesser degree with Zimbabwe and Kenya in the former category and Sierra Leone and Gambia very much in the latter.

Source :: The Sunday Times