The secret behind Tanzania’s development success….. 

After winning the Africa Women's Cricket Tournament, we got an opportunity to speak with the Tanzanian National Coach Mr. Shafiq Virani (Shaft) 

Please introduce yourself and how did you come to the “world of cricket”? 


Tanzanian National Coach Mr. Shafiq Virani

My name is Shafiq Virani , I was born in Dar es Salaam 15th May 1958, since my childhood I used to love sports, music and literature. In my young age I used to be a very good soccer player. 

Back in 1983 I used to play soccer for Aga Khan Club, one of these days the football practice was postponed, so some of the players started to watch the cricket practice, during the same day in the cricket practice session they were lacking some of the cricket players, and it so happened the Captain of the Aga Khan Cricket Club Mr. Shiraz Sumar requested us if we could join them in fielding. So we just went in and started to pick the balls which were hit by the batsman around the field. Soon after the practice, Mr. Sumar told us that we had a very good athletic and young body, why don’t we play cricket? Since that day on and off I used to go for the Cricket Practice. 

I remember in 1985, I started to play for Aga Khan Cricket club ‘C’ as a medium pace bowler. I found myself to give more time to cricket than soccer, that’s how I became familiar to Cricket. 

What was your progress from 1985 onwards? 

I was working very hard and determined to play for A Division, in December 1986 I was promoted to B Division, during those days the B Division players were allowed to play for A Division, so I used to play on and off for A division. 

In 1991 I was promoted to A Division under the captainship of Mr. Karim Jamal, I continued to play till 2001 when I had a knee injury and i had to hang up my boots. 

How did you direct your interests towards coaching? 

I remember back in 2001 when there was a trip arranged to Mombasa for the Developing side under 15 and Under 19 boys, during that time Mr. Sibtain Kassamali was the National Coach, as we were in Mombasa, Mr. Kassamali had a better job offered in Kenya. So he approached me, if I could take over his position. I remember I laughed and said “Sibu, since when do I know how to coach?” and after that we had some brief discussions where he gave me hints and tips how to start with. 

He also promised me that he will always be there behind me whenever I need him.

I started my job from 15th April 2001 as a developing Coach, and during the same year Mr. Tom Tikolo visited Dar es Salaam for Basic level coaching, so I did my basic levels and the following year I did my Level 1 and 2.  

I have experienced one thing while coaching others, I get to learn more day by day. 

What’s the secret behind your success as a Tanzania Women’s National Team Coach? 

The determination, hard work and self confidence of the players themselves, I believe in any sport a man or women’s discipline is the prime factor of victory. 

What success have you achieved till today? 

My first success was back in 2002, where we had a East African Under 15 Championships in Dar es Salaam for Boys and Girls, where three nations, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda participated. The girl’s side emerged the Winners and Boys became the Runners-up. 

In 2003, the girls won the under 19 Championships which were held in Uganda and I had the same young and enthusiastic girls.

My biggest achievement was in the same year December 2003, where by the Boys and Girls won the East African under 17 Championships held in Kenya. 

In 2004, Tanzania Women’s Cricket Team won the Africa Women’s Cricket Tournament, whereby they won each and ever game played against Kenya, Uganda and Namibia. 

What future can you see in these girls?  

I make sure that the game of cricket runs in their  veins

They definitely have a bright future ahead of them. In Tanzania we have a lot of talented players throughout the regions, and all these players come from the Grass Root Level, whereby they know the right basics of Cricket. 

So when they come to the Cricket Academy its hard and but very easy to Coach them, and I make sure that the game of cricket runs in their veins, and in future if the same continues probably one day these girls and boys will carry the Tanzanian flag at the highest level of the Competition.

What I understand that these girls started the cricket development program from the Grass Root Level, how difficult was to train them and make them successful? 

It was really hard and tough to teach them the game of bat and ball, eventually day by day, they were getting better and better at the Academy, they were going through a lot of theory and practical sessions I believe a player make himself or herself a player, a Coaches duty is just guide. 

Mr. Virani, what are your dreams? 

My dream is to make sure if God wishes that our girls and boys should achieve a title of World Champions.

Can you mention a few young players in Tanzania who have really impressed you? 

Meet Jetha, Hasnain Damji, Hamisi Abdallah, Benson Mwita and Bhavesh Govind. They have a lot of potential and hidden talents; on which if they work they will find themselves in better positions. 

Who has always been your best player in International Cricket?

Sir Garfield Sobers from West Indies and my current best player is Pakistani skipper Inzamam Ul Haq. 

Thank you very much for sharing your precious time with the Tanzania Cricket Association web team.