THE Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) has promised to create competitiveness for cricket in the North-Western Province once the sport is fully established in the region.

ZCU president Reuben Chama said the union would strive to ensure cricket was developed in the province.

During the closing ceremony of a two-day Introductory to Cricket coaching course at Mushitala Basic School in Solwezi yesterday, Chama said the union would ensure that the sport was taken to rural areas.

Chama said the North-Western Province would no longer lag behind in sport development like it was the case in the past.

He said introducing the sport to the province was one way of creating competitiveness among cricket players.

"I can assure you that this project will be a success, we are not just coming here to introduce this game, but we can assure that you will be given the much needed support from us" he said.

The ZCU chief urged the participants to continue working hard and ensure the sport was introduced to children in the community.

He said if the teachers were in the forefront of promoting the sport in schools, the pupils would not have problems in grasping the techniques of the game.

A participant, Sonywell Jito said he was happy to be part of the first group that attended a workshop that introduced cricket in the province.

He said he had learnt a lot of things from the two-day workshop and that bringing cricket to the province would not only bring joy to the pupils, but the province at large.

Jito also commended the union for the initiative and promised that the teachers would implement all the things that had learnt in the workshop.

And ZCU development officer, Edwin Muwowo said he was impressed with the turn-out of the participants despite being school holidays.

Muwowo said the enthusiasm shown by the teachers was testimony enough that cricket had a bright future in the province.

He said the participants were tutored of the basics of cricket which included batting, bowling, fielding, scoring and umpiring.

Muwowo, who was the course instructor, said the technical team would be visiting the place regularly to check on progress.

And ZCU commitee member Martin Mutono said the workshop was attended by Kabwela Basic, Kimole Basic, Kikombe Basic, Makole Basic, Solwezi Technical Secondary, Ringbell and Mushitala Basic Schools.