New centre to hone talent

DUBAI With a focus to develop the physical and mental abilities of young cricketers the Desert Cubs Cricket Academy (DCCA) have opened a state-of-the-art cricketing facility at the sprawling Deira International School grounds, near Al Badia, Festival City, Dubai.

The centre is equipped with three practice nets including two astroturfs and one cement wicket, a professional bowling machine, fielding drill equipment, facilities to conduct indoor video analysis sessions and a proper grass ground. Most importantly, the academy will house a full-time physiotherapist who will have close interaction with the kids.

third centre

“This is our third training centre. We have a similar one in Sharjah since 2007 at the Our Own Sharjah English School grounds and due to huge demand from parents to open a branch in Dubai we thought of this place,” said Presley Polonnowita, Director and Head Coach of DCCA.

“Having a physio is a necessary for UAE cricket and most academies in the UAE neglect this part. So we have ensured we have a full time physio. Cricket is a game where you have to become an athlete first and then a cricketer. So there must be a lot of focus on fitness.

“We have chalked out different types of fitness programmes and we also have a psychologist who will interact with our players and coaches. This will not only help build their mental level but make them productive players and able to handle pressure situations well,” said Presley, who has played first class cricket in Sri Lanka.

Explaining the video analysis setup, he said: “We will select few players who are talented and video them. Later, we will analyse their skill level with coaches and experts and help the kids hone their skills by conducting seperate sessions.”

The academy has 31 qualified coaches with two physiotherapists who have done their first-aid courses as well.

“We also have two ladies coaches to train girls attending our camps,” said Presley.

The head coach also insisted the academy believed in providing individual attention to children which will help hone their skills. “We focus on every individual at the training sessions. Each coach is not given more than 12 to 13 kids and they will get proper attention.

“We also have good grounds with us, where we expose players to match situations,” he added.

open to all

The facility is open to all and will also focus on training the Deira International School kids after the school hours. “We have practice after school Sunday to Thursday 4:30 to 6:30pm and during weekends we have an evening session on Friday and Saturdays will have both morning and evening sessions,” he said.

DCCA also hosts cricket carnivals in the UAE and provides kids from the academy opportunities to travel abroad on tours.

Presley said they will be having more such tournaments (local and international) in the near future as part of their expansion plans. “We had two carnivals in 2009 and 2010 at Sharjah Stadium and every year we organise tours which helps boys gain exposure.

“Last December we took our under-12 and under-14 boys to Bangalore, India and then we have another one coming up to one of the Gulf countries during the mid-term holidays for the under-11 and under-15 boys,” he said.