NTVL_DEVELOPMENT_PROJECT_23MAR1996

NORTHERNS UNVEIL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Trevor Chesterfield.

Northern Transvaal`s long-term programme to produce more youngsters in the Pierre Joubert, Craig Parker and Pierre de Bruyn category could be up and running by September as part of the province`s ambitious "Northerns 2000" strategy.

Although the outline of the proposed R2-million two-phase Northern Transvaal Cricket Academy was unveiled at the NTCU monthly board meeting earlier this week, clubs were told that the final plans for the academy were still under investigation.

However, Hein Raath, the NTCU vice -president and academy project co-ordinator, showed board members a model of the academy, which includes five indoor nets as well as administrative offices.

RESPONSIBILITY

As it is the posts for the head of the academy and that of two senior coaches have already been advertised and designated key areas of responsibility have been outlined. The deadline for applications is March 31. The first phase of the planned project includes turning the conference centre into an indoor net area with of- fices and other facilities. Phase two of the scheme proposes the building of accommodation for 30 players and two officials. Richard Harris- on, the NTCU president, did warn clubs that the academy, as with other projects in the five-year plan, was subject to a financial evaluation , as would "other components of the Northerns 2000" profile.

Raath, a former provincial player, emphasised that phase one of the academy would be measured against international standards applicable to those in operation in other countries. "But we need to move with the plans soon if we are to meet our proposed target dates", he said. "If we (the Union) do go ahead with the plan it would be a long term investment in our own players as well as being a mission statement and part of our five-year plan," he ad- ded. This in turn would guarantee continuous development of the Union`s own talent. But the confer ence and banquet centre facilities will not be lost to the Union as the hall will still be used as a multipurpose centre. Should the scheme take off and there`s no reason why it shouldn`t, Centurion Park will, apart from having the best outdoor net facilities in the world, have an international standard indoor centre th at could, in the longterm, make the ground the permanent base for overseas teams during their pre-tour preparations in the country. Pierre Joubert, a member of the under-19 South African team now on tour in India, Pierre de Bruyn, who is on standby in case of injury and Craig Parker, are members of the Northern Transvaal under-19 squad and, along with the highly promising crop of under-15 and under-19 players now emerging, would benefit from the academy when the doors open.