The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
WORK hard, play harder is the mantra that has put Harare City Hornets shooting guard Tatenda Maturure heads and shoulders above his peers.
Whether it’s spending an extra hour on the court after every practice session or making at least two hundred shots a day Maturure is always putting in the hard work.
Much like his sporting idols Lebron James and Usain Bolt, the Hornets man is never short on confidence. “As far as sporting idols go, I like Usain Bolt and Lebron James,” revealed the 27-year-old Maturure.
“They are always focused on whatever they do, and strive to be the best in their crafts “I have tried my best to incorporate their work ethic, talent and desire into my game.” Just like King James, as Lebron is known in basketball circles worldwide, Maturure posts phenomenal numbers regularly and has made winning the Most Valuable Player Award a routine.
James currently has four career MVP awards to his name, one behind Michael Jordan. Maturure has nine and maintains each one of them is special. “Every player is a good player, so when you are selected to be an MVP it means you have been separated from the pack.
“Also, it is an acknowledgement of all the hard work, sacrifice and hours one will have put into his game,” he said. Maturure’s impressive form seems to have settled debate on who is the best ball player in Zimbabwe.
In the past, names like Vitalis Chikoko, Agrippa Masvisvi, Eric Banda (solely based on the longevity of his game) and Nathan Warikanda were the popular picks.
Now it’s all about “Dummy” as Maturure is known within local basketball circles. While other coaches refuse to name their picks, Foxes coach Kelvin Ben makes no apologies for believing that Maturure is the best in the game.
“Dummy, without a doubt, and anyone who says otherwise is absolutely mad,” said Ben. “Hornets are an ordinary team when he is not on the court and while some love to point at his suspect defensive capabilities, who needs to defend well when you can score at the rate he does?”
Ben may sound generous on Maturure but the lad has been on fire.
This year he has led Hornets to five titles – the Harare Basketball title, National League, BOB93 crown, Independence Trophy and, most recently, the Harare Mayor’s Basketball Challenge.
Maturure has collected three MVP crowns from these conquests. His numbers also make for some good reading as he averages 23 points per game throughout the regular season.
Surely, Maturure is the man who makes the Hornets tick even though his coach Langton “LK” Moyo refuses to describe him as the best in the land.
“I could be the coach of such a player and coming out and calling him the best player in the country would be unfair to the rest of the squad,” he said.
