Chindumo’s heart of a lion

28 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

When the announcer was about to call out the best male Libero for the 2014 Confederation of African Volleyball Region V Club Championships, the crowd shouted “Zimbabwe’s Number 13!”

The diminutive jersey Number 13 player walked up to the front, got handshakes from the dignitaries before being handed his trophy.

That Number 13 was 20-year-old Murphrey Chindumo, who played for losing finalists Support Unit at the 8th edition of the CAVB Region V Club Championships in Maputo, Mozambique last week.

A Libero is a defensive specialist who is not limited by rules of rotation and wears a different jersey from his teammates on a volleyball court. It is a position that requires being quick, good ball-handling skills, passing and digging.

These skills aptly describe Chindumo, who now believes he is one of the best in the region.

“It feels great, you know. The first time I won this award I thought it was just winning and might not happen again.

“But wow, I have won it again and I am starting to believe maybe I am the region’s best,” said Chindumo, whose latest award is the third in two years.

He scooped the first on his national team debut during the Sub-Zonal World Championships in Malawi in July last year, before retaining it at the Zonal qualifiers three months later in Botswana.

Chindumo has grabbed another one, his first at the Club Championships, and the youngster believes that his future is bright.

“I need to continue working hard and giving my best in every game I play to live up to the best of my abilities.”

“I have learnt that the volleyball ball won’t kill me and I just get on the court and do my thing,” said the former Beatrice Primary and Mpopoma High pupil.

He was grateful to Support Unit coach Itsanang Abu Basuthu, the man who “changed him into a libero from an attacking position”.

Basuthu once described Chindumo as “a small boy with a big heart” for his exploits and breathtaking dives on the court.

Said Chindumo: “Coach Itsa and former Railstars player Que Fuyana showed me how to hold hands and most of volleyball stuff. Now I love volleyball and will never leave this sport.’’

However, that love was non-existent some years back.

“I used to be an athlete in primary school, until Mr Chigumira urged me to try volleyball. That’s how I became a volleyball player; I was a setter in primary.’’

“I want to see myself playing for clubs overseas and I also urge other youngsters to believe in themselves and never give up,” said the Mufakose-bred lad, who is now based in the City of Kings and Queens (Bulawayo).

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