The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
GARY BRENT is a cricket “nuffy’’ who is “jumping out of bed every morning” eager to take on his latest challenge in the game.
A gritty and smart player during his international playing days, Brent has transitioned to be one of the top local coaches, and his new job has got him excited.
From coaching the Mountaineers and being part of the Howzat Academy founders to coaching the Rangers Academy, Brent’s journey has brought him back on the international scene as the Zimbabwe Cricket women’s team head coach.
In an interview with ZTN Sport last week, the 46-year-old former Zimbabwe international said he was excited ahead of his maiden tour with the Lady Chevrons.
The team leaves the country on April 19 for a tri-series against hosts Namibia and Uganda starting this week.
“I am looking forward to this tour and seeing where we can progress with this team,” he said.
“The previous coaches have done an amazing job to get the girls where they are and it’s my job now to make them go that little further, and I am hoping we can do that, and I am confident we can.”
Brent has been conducting one-on-one net sessions with some of the players and he sees great value in such training.
“It’s been amazing to work with some of the ladies face-to-face and just chat about their game and what we want to do as a team; how their game plans will fit into the team. Those are conversations that are going to be ongoing,” he said.
Being involved with the national women’s team is a challenge Brent relishes.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) last week confirmed South Africa as hosts of the inaugural Women’s Under-19 World Cup, which will be a T20 International competition.
Brent believes Zimbabwe will assemble a strong team for the competition since players as young as 13 were involved in the recent domestic women’s competitions. “It’s incredibly exciting. We have got Trevor Phiri who is coaching that team; we are going to be working very much together. “I think we have got an exciting Under-19 side and we want to make sure we are fully prepared for that as well.
“Hopefully we are going to see a lot of those Under-19s practicing with the national team as well.”
Senior women’s team captain Mary-Anne Musonda is set to play in the Fairbreak Invitational T20 Competition in Dubai next month and Brent reckons there are more opportunities in the women’s game.
“What all the girls must realise is that the world is open to them now.
“The women’s IPL starts next year. We have got the women’s Big Bash League, there is going to be lots of these competitions, there is The Hundred as well.
“I think Mary-Anne going to Dubai is a first step of that and why can’t we have ladies in all those competitions, but that is up to them and how much they want it, how much they want to work hard for it, but certainly there is immense opportunity waiting for anyone who wants it.”
One thing for sure is that Brent will go all out because he loves cricket.
