From Harare to Dagenham: Ben Chitiyo's story

How one coach is helping East London kids to enjoy cricket

CHARITY FEATURE

For Ben Chitiyo, it's always been cricket. His love affair began in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, and continues today, in East London.

Like all love affairs, things weren't smooth sailing. "Sport wasn't valued by my parents; it was a no-go. You had to be academic," says Ben.

Thankfully, his PE teacher, Miss Penney, spotted him, and he starred for his school team.

But attention shifted away from cricket when he moved to the UK in 1989, as he studied accounting and worked to support family back home. He had his son, Ben Jr, in 2005, and daughter, Kizzy, three years later.

"After telling my kids how much I loved cricket in school, I gradually returned," he explains. "We went to the park every Saturday, they would come with their friends. They loved it."

Rediscovering his passion, Ben completed coaching qualifications in 2021 and now coaches at Chance to Shine's Jo Richardson Street Club in Dagenham – the fifth-most deprived local authority in the UK.

"I imagined how many children experienced what I experienced with my parents, which inspired me to become a coach," says Ben.

"If you give them an environment where they can have fun and appreciate failure, they learn that failure is part of life."

Chance to Shine, a children's cricket charity, have set up more than 300 Street clubs across the UK to ensure young people living in under-served areas have access to the game, and experience all its benefits.

"There's no better feeling than seeing a child who thinks cricket is not for them transform into a confident player. 

"Money can't buy that."

Click here to learn more about Chance to Shine's Street cricket clubs