CFX Academy up against the Kiwis

DIRK Viljoen has every reason to be worried. But if he is, it does not show. The 23-year old skipper of the CFX Cricket Academy side which plays the New Zealand national team at Country Club tomorrow is confident his men will give a good showing. Win or lose, Viljoen knows, his players will definitely gain something.

This is the first ever international at the academy's new home at Country Club in Highlands, and Viljoen wants his team to make full use of it.

Viljoen's approach is that an academy side is lucky to be playing a national team and that this is an opportunity for growth, which what the academy is all about.

"I have got an excellent side and we might surprise New Zealand," he told The Standard. "If they think this game will be a stroll because we are a bunch of youngsters, they might get a shock. We are going into the field to win." Viljoen knows that the challenge of playing such an international team can only help him and his players to improve their game. "The academy is there to help young players gain experience and reach the standard required to represent Zimbabwe internationally.

"You don't accomplish that by playing weak sides. Our aim is to win in tomorrow's game. Even if we lose, when we walk off the field, we will all be better players because of the exposure we would have had," said Viljoen.

The captain believes in taking risks and sounded a word of caution to young players.

"We in Zimbabwe and young players everywhere need to understand that no one owes us anything.

"Playing good cricket is not right or something that happens because you get named to this or that side. It comes from hard work, practice, and dedication, and from taking risks.

"In the course of playing against tough sides, there will be times when you get thrashed. But you will also improve more than you would ever do in the nets. In a short time, you will be on the winning side. That is why I am so excited about tomorrow's game," he added.

New Zealand will be captained by Stephen Fleming whose team will start its one-day matches against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. The CFX Cricket Academy will be captained by Viljoen and includes Gary Brent, Dion Ebrahim, Douglas Hondo, and Mark Vermeulen.

Zimbabwe's opening bat will be Douglas Marillier who has just returned from the Australian cricket academy in Adelaide. Also in action will be Raymond Price, nephew of Zimbabwe's Sportsperson of the Century, Nick Price. Raymond is the son of Tim Price, who has just returned from the European PGA Tour.

The local academy has found its feet following the injection of a $12 million sponsorship from the foreign exchange group CFX. This is one of the largest sponsorships in Zimbabwean sport.

Viljoen believes the sponsorship will bring untold benefits to Zimbabwean cricket.

"At the academy, we are planning now for tomorrow's game, but the vision for this nation's future over the next 20 years," he said.