Leicestershire Helping Tanzanian Club To Reach New Heights

When you think of Tanzania, you’d be forgiven for picturing scaling Mount Kilimanjaro rather than hitting hundreds, but cricket is ascending to new heights in East Africa’s largest country.

While the renowned mountain shares a special cricketing connection, holding a world record for the highest altitude cricket match ever played, Leicestershire CCC is helping one club to reach its own peak.

The Club has been working with Dar Raptors Cricket Club in Dar es Salaam to aid the development of cricket in Tanzania’s largest city, donating cricket equipment and County Championship shirts to the junior club who were without kit for their training sessions.

Founded in 2009, Dar Raptors has gone from strength to strength, with a total of 250 boys and girls aged 9-15 now learning to play cricket at the club’s rural hub.

12 students have gone on to play for Tanzania’s Under 19 national team, with the production of Kurtik Thakkar one of the team’s headline success stories. However, the struggle to find funding and equipment has been a perpetual battle for the club.

Osman Bairu, Founder of Dar Raptors Cricket Club, said: “We are so grateful to Leicestershire for supporting us in our development as a club.

“Our boys and girls are from poor families and we lack cricket gear. Here in Tanzania, equipment is very expensive and not everyone can afford it, but they are very keen to learn the game.

“We are proud to sport Leicestershire shirts and have been following the Club’s progress through social media. The (One Day Cup) final was inspiring and now more kids want to play cricket with us.”

Olivia Bryan, Ticketing & Membership Services Executive at Leicestershire CCC, said: “It’s amazing to see how a small gesture can make such a big difference. Cricket is a game for all, and we want to break down every barrier we can.

“It’s been very rewarding to see Dar Raptors’ progress and we want to continue to support clubs in need both locally and internationally.”