The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
HIPPO VALLEY recently wrapped up their third outdoor hockey title on the bounce, and their rising 21-year-old forward Takunda Chipuma was the main man. Chipuma scored 13 times in eight matches as his team powered to another crown.
And ominously – for other teams – his captain, Kanyiwe Tafuma, believes the striker can do better. “I would give him a seven out of 10,” said the Hippo Valley skipper. “Taku is a well-disciplined player on and off the field, someone who always gives 100 percent effort and listens to instructions, most importantly.
“However, I give him seven out of 10 because there is still more in him and I know it just like he does. This boy can only get better.” Chipuma, who made his national team debut when he was still at Churchill High School, is the type of player who is never content.
“It was a good season I guess, 13 goals in eight matches,” he said. “But there is always room for improvement and the key is to keep pushing. My biggest story is making the Zimbabwe hockey national team when I was in Upper Six and the guy who invited me to try hockey at Churchill is now my captain in the national team.
“Since the day he invited me to have a go at hockey Tendai Maredza has been teaching me never to be content, so I am always hungry for more.”
Chipuma has scored six goals in his 15 internationals and plans to play his way into attracting the attention of foreign clubs. “My biggest dream in hockey is to go play hockey outside the country and open doors for more players from Zimbabwe and also to earn a living through the sport.
“I am not yet the real deal but with a lot of work I believe it’s only a matter of time before I become a player that foreign clubs will tussle to sign up,” he said.
