The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Sports Reporter
THE sprawling dormitory town of Chitungwiza might be popular for having produced some of the country’s finest footballers such as the golden generation of Gift Muzadzi, Norman Mapeza, Kalisto Pasuwa, Stewart Murisa and Lloyd Chitembwe, but it also boasts cricket talent as well.
It has players, officials and bat doctors.
Wesley Madhevere, the newest member in the Chevrons ensemble who shone in Bangladesh recently, is an exciting talent from Chitungwiza.
Walter and Tafadzwa Musakwa are two First Class umpires from the same town who also dream of officiating together in the domestic match and an international assignment.
In New Zealand, batsman Ngoni Mupamba, who scored 158 on his First Class debut for Mountaineers in 2018, is representing Chi-town.
Zimbabwe Cricket women’s team players Anesu Mushangwe and Christabel Chatonzva also hail from Chitungwiza.
Likewise, Never Lundu, a renowned ‘bat doctor’ who has fixed cricket bats for Indian legend MS Dhoni among many visiting teams and local players, is from the same town.
“My dream is to see as many boys from Chitungwiza in national colours and better facilities in the area,” said Walter Musakwa, who also runs Maximum Cricket Academy.
“Maximum Cricket Academy is mainly focused on giving game time to the less privileged, and we do this by organising friendly games in Zimbabwe and out of the country,” he said of the academy established in 2011.
For Lundu, fixing bats is a dream.
“That is the idea: to have more guys learning the skill.
“I learnt it from my elders and developed into what I am today. I have to give back as well, so whenever I am fixing a bat for someone from this place, I make sure they learn a few things,” Lundu said.
Chitungwiza prides itself in having two teams — Royal and Gladiators — in the Harare Metropolitan League, also known as the Vigne Cup.
Royal won the Vigne Cup inaugural league in the 2007/8 season, while Gladiators are in their maiden season.
Tony Munyonga, Milton Shumba and Madhevere are products of the Gladiators.
Prince Edward School’s cricket first team coach, Alois Tichana, who is also from Chitungwiza, attributes their success to “passion-driven coaches.”
“We didn’t put money first, we worked for one goal that was the driving force — passion,” said Tichana.
A former Zimbabwe A batsman, Tichana, however, bemoans the collapse of their system.
“We are now relying on St Aidens and Zengeza.
“When we stopped getting support from ZC, it hugely affected our plans,” Tichana said.
Mupamba, who is playing at Hawera United Cricket Club (Dion Ebrahim and Doug Hondo’s former club), has fond memories of playing cricket in Seke.
“We used to play our ‘Test’ every December, five days of cricket on concrete.
“It was fun, that is who we are, we enjoy the game and looking back we can see it was worth it,” Mupamba said.
He, however, believes that the town deserves better facilities for its talent.
“I think the biggest thing is having our own ground, training facilities and education for our coaches.
“With more coaches in schools, we can increase our player base. The current facilities we use are school premises and it is not easy having access all the time.”
Cromen Zinyama, one of the treasured products from the Chitungwiza cricket system, is grateful for Zimbabwe Cricket’s developmental projects back in the day.
“They built a net and astroturfs at Chinembiri, Dudzai, St Aidens, Seke 1 High and Zengeza, and this paved the way for new blood . . .
“Credit should also be given to primary school coaches Kuda Chigulupati, Malcom Chikuhwa and Talkmore Borerwe who took the initiative to help those at high school level at Seke 1 High and further developed some boys.
“The ZC scholarship programme also contributed immensely towards development.
“The combined effort of ZC, coaches (both contracted and non-contracted) and players led to the formation of clubs like Royal, Gladiators and Uprising, including academies like Maximum and Ramah Sports Academy.”
Some of Chitungwiza’s unsung development coaches include Sylvester Mutusva, Stanley Timoni, Square Square, Reggie Mutaramutswa, Claud Madyira and Mathias Dyiwa.
There is a strong feeling among the town’s cricket community that with more developmental support, Chitungwiza could yet become Zimbabwe’s best cricket catchment area.
