Building cricket from the roots up

No matter his age, cricket has always played a major role in the life of Rajendra Maharaj.

From playing school cricket as a lad in Pietermaritzburg, to teaching mini cricket to groups of eager youngsters today, Mr Maharaj’s focus remains giving life to the gentleman’s game.

In return, he can boast some of the finest coaching techniques in the province.

Mr Maharaj, a teacher at Suryaville Primary School and a qualified KFC Mini Cricket stalwart, was recently nominated and elected Coach of the Month by the provincial Inland Cricket Union.

This is just one of his many achievements throughout a mini cricket career spanning two-and-a-half decades.

Commenting on the reason he became a mini cricket coach, Mr Maharaj replied: “Because I am a foundation phase teacher, I deal with children all the time. I like to see them develop while having fun.”

Mr Maharaj explained the most important aspect of mini cricket was teaching the basics of the sport, providing players the opportunity to perhaps take cricket further.

One of Mr Maharaj’s former pupils, he added, has represented the province at high school level.

“Nowadays, children are into the PC age, cellphones and PSPs. The aim is to get them to exercise and develop, because improving fitness is important.”

Mr Maharaj is one of a team of mini cricket coaches who dedicate nearly every Saturday to showing children the importance of enjoying sport and interacting with one another.

These people, he elaborated, received no monetary rewards for their time and effort.

“We do this only for the love of cricket and for the children.”

Asked what the key to his success as a coach was, Mr Maharaj said it was undoubtedly dedication to the KFC Mini Cricket programme, and the important link between coaches and pupils.

He also thanked KZN Inland Cricket Union for its ongoing support.

“Inland keeps all coaches at the top of their game and has helped us become fully fledged coaches. We also attend seminars to share ideas and implement these in our respective areas.”

Speaking on the broader spectrum of his coaching, Mr Maharaj said he had a vision to bridge the widening gap between early year cricket and school level, as the sport was not nurtured at primary school level.

Keeping the passion for cricket alive across this gap was key to the sport’s survival in the immediate future.

“Around August and September, we host a massive mini cricket festival and I believe parents should play a more important role in getting children into sport.”