West Indian cricketers conduct coaching clinic

The West Indies brought joy to the hearts of over 500 budding cricketers and supporters when they visited the Actonville townships, outside Johannesburg yesterday.

Starry-eyed children and adoring adults were captivated by the presence of Carl Hooper's team as the Windies took the day off to conduct a coaching clinic at the small field in the rural district.

Batsmen Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were the main attractions for the fans in the area, which is a mile from the Willonmore Oval, the venue for the side's match against Bangladesh tomorrow.

The event was organised by the World Cup Committee and the Easterns Cricket Board, and the ground is said to be the main venue used by black players during the apartheid era.

From the moment the West Indies players emerged from the bus at 2 p.m. they were mobbed by the fans, many of whom see them as greater heroes than members of the South African side.

"The West Indies players of the past are my real heroes," said Cynthia Constantine, who made the hour-long trip from Johannesburg.

"The West Indies have showed that black people can dominate at the highest level and I'm proud of `my' team."

Dudu Hlophe, 16, and ten teammates from her school's girls' team, made a 90-minute trip to be part of the clinic.

"I'm just so happy to be here and meet the West Indies," she said with a smile that rivalled the afternoon sun.

"I just wanted to meet Lara and I got a chance to bowl at him. He's a nice man and the others are very cool."

Tommy Padotan, a lifelong supporter, brought along his wife, son and four daughters to meet the team. He also had Press clippings from the West Indies' heroics as far back as the 1970s.

"This is a real chance to meet the team I love so much. We would not have missed it for the world," he said.

But it was not just an event for the fans.

Sky Sports, the British-based television network; SuperSports, one of South Africa's leading networks, and several other sections of the media were there.

West Indies captain Carl Hooper praised the authorities for putting on the event and acknowledged that his players had a tremendous impact on the youth.

"It was great to interact with the youngsters today and impart some our knowledge," he said.

"They see us on television and this allowed the youngsters to realise that the players in the World Cup are not far removed from them."