The Sunday Mail
When you don’t sacrifice for what you love, what you love will be the sacrifice.
That was the thought that ran through the mind of Support Unit utility player Keith Machakaire as a broken finger came close to robbing the 23-year-old of a historic campaign at the Zone VI Volleyball Championship held in Bulawayo last weekend.
Keith Machakaire broke his pinky finger when blocking, during Support Unit’s second game of the tournament against Indeni of Zambia.
It was put in a plaster because the finger was fractured, but Machakaire refused to give up.
“I had worked hard for this and my team needed me, and so there was no way I was going to let this opportunity pass with me standing on the sidelines,” he said.
Machakaire later went on to remove the plaster and powered through the pain all the way to the final.
Now, Machakaire has no qualms about calling himself a true champion, as Support Unit became the first Zimbabwean men’s team to win the Zone VI Volleyball Club Championship in 11 years.
CBZ Jewels is the only other team to claim such a feat and that was back in 2006. “It feels great man, we played hard the whole year as a team,” said Machakaire.
“I am proud of our efforts and personally if another situation where I am injured and the team needs me I will jump in as long I can manage.
“I love this game and hate losing,” he said.
Although he wasn’t used full-time after his injury, Machakaire made cameo appearances, when needed, like in the semi-final when Support Unit let slip of their 2-0 lead against Red Skins of Lesotho.
The team went on to clinch a final berth courtesy of a 3-1 win. His coach, Itsalang Abu Basutu, called him a fighter who symbolised what the whole squad was like.
“It’s not everytime that you have players like that, we tried to stop him but he insisted on playing.
“We had to use him in short spells and I’m glad it paid off,” said Basutu of his side that beat compatriots UZ 3-1 in the final.
It ends a remarkable season for Basutu and his boys who clinched all the domestic titles.
He will have a merry Christmas.
“We were better prepared, the team chemistry was unbelievable and it’s the reason we won the Harare Volleyball League and the National League.
“This (regional title) was just the icing on the cake.
“It will be a very merry Christmas, obviously spending time with family and doing the usual routines,” he said.
Support Unit will shift attention to their second appearance at the African Club Championships whose dates and hosts will be advised in the coming weeks.
Basutu admits it will be tough, but takes confidence from his team’s attitude during the regional tournament.
