ZAMBIA Cricket Union (ZCU) president Reuben Chama has said the union will this year focus on youth development programmes as its strives to build on a successful 2012 campaign.

Chama described 2012 as a good year, which saw ZCU implement most of the programmes on the calendar.

Among the programmes included competing in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Pepsi Twenty-Twenty tournament which Zambia won and got promoted to division two.

He paid tribute to Government through the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) for the support rendered to his executive in ensuring that the affairs of the ZCU ran smoothly.

"The year 2012 has really been a good one for us and I thank my executive committee, our members, the Government for finding time to help us in running the affairs of the union," Chama said.

Chama said his executive, which was ushered in the office late in 2011, managed to put the office in order and sent a team to participate in the ICC Pepsi Twenty-Twenty cricket tournament in South Africa.

He said people should learn to appreciate the works the executive had done, considering where the union was coming from.

Chama said his committee had managed to restore some pride into ZCU after people and sponsors had lost confidence.

"I am happy that four months down the line since we were ushered into office, the union managed to send a team of the senior cricketers to participate in the T-20 championship which the team won and got promoted back into division two," he said.

Chama said in August, ZCU sent the team back to South Africa to participate