Yahoo News 
Coventry predicts bright future for cricket in the UAE
Zimbabwean cricketer Charles Coventry, now plying his trade here, believes the UAE has what it takes to become a big cricket nation in the future, and says he wants to take up coaching when he retires from the game.
The 30-year-old, famed for his remarkable unbeaten 194 against Bangladesh in 2009, is playing for Wings SRT XI in Dubai on a one-year contract, and is impressed with the country’s ambitions since arriving in January.
“I think UAE have everything available to them that can make it a big cricketing country,” said the right-handed batsman. “They’ve got the ICC Academy in Dubai, they have some lovely grounds and fantastic stadiums. I think with a little bit more management of their players and leagues, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
“A lot of the cricket depends on many of the expats playing over here, and it’s not too big with the Emiratis. It would be nice to see them playing. Who says the UAE cannot become a big cricketing nation?
“They’re not walking along the lines of Australia, England or South Africa but they can be up there with some of the best around with a bit of improvement to the structure of the game.”
It has only been five years since Coventry smashed his first century, and equalled the then highest individual score of 194 with Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar (against India in 1997).
Still considered an important player by Zimbabwe, Coventry said his country’s financial problems led him to play club cricket in the UAE.
“I have ties with a cricket agency in England, and they had ties with Wings (in Dubai) and that’s how I ended up here. There is a lot of cricket being played here which is nice as a player and we are playing cricket a lot which is good,” said Coventry, who won his first piece of silverware with Wings SRT XI in the Danube Test Series in January.
“At the moment there are some issues with the cricket (in Zimbabwe). It causes concern for all of us and obviously you need to havea job. At the moment I was only being contracted by Zimbabwe for six months of the year.
“For the other six months, you have to find something else to do. So when I got this opportunity (in Dubai) I took it. There is talk of staying here for longer and I am definitely up for a whole year but with the option of renewing.”
Nicknamed ‘Choppa’, the Zimbabwean was selected for his country’s World Twenty20 campaign earlier this year, but pulled out citing ‘personal reasons’.
“I will never turn my back on Zimbabwe. There is my side of the story and then there’s their side of the story. It’s not like I’m fighting with anyone there.
“I pulled out due to personal reasons and I don’t think it would be viable for me to go back to Zimbabwe at the moment. I’m in a good set up here. A good professional set up and enjoying it.”
Coventry says he is happy being a player but would not rule out a coaching job in the future.
“Definitely,” he replied, when asked if he had any plans to coach in the future. “I will be 31 this month, and for me I still want to play a lot of cricket. But that doesn’t mean I can't coach and play.
“I’d love to go into coaching after my playing career because cricket is my life. I love walking onto the field every day, being around cricketers, having fun with the players. I would still love to carry on playing.
“If something comes up coaching- wise then maybe I will go into coaching much earlier. It all depends on the condition of my body. I’m still quite fit and strong. If a coaching opportunity comes along I will grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Factfile
Name:
Charles Kevin Coventry
Born:
March 8, 1983, Kwekwe, Midlands
Major teams:
Zimbabwe, Matabeleland, Matabeleland Tuskers, Westerns, Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, Wings SRT XI
Nickname:
Choppa
Playing role:
Top-order batsman
Batting style:
Right-hand bat
Total Runs:
ODIs – 821 (37 matches), T20s – 97 (9 matches), Tests – 88 (2 matches)
