The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Bindura has a Chinaman, the son of a vendor, a quiet and diminutive lad set to break new grounds.
Tadiwa “China” Nyangani is set to be the first cricketer from Bindura to play for the Zimbabwe U19 cricket team at a World Cup.
And one can imagine what this means to him, his family, friends and coaches.
“It’s a great feeling, I really appreciate this opportunity,” said the 17-year-old left-arm wrist spinner.
He is a rare breed of bowler across the cricketing world; it’s not every day that one finds a left-arm wrist spinner.
“I started playing cricket in Grade Three at Hermann Gmeiner School after being hooked by seeing others enjoying themselves, but little did I know my style of bowling was a rarity,” he said.
“I thought I was ordinary until I saw India’s Kuldeep Yadav and how he takes wickets and troubles batsmen.
“Thats how he has taken hat-tricks; it motivated me and I look up to him now.
‘I actually hope to meet him one day”
The Zimbabwe Under-19 squad is expected to leave for the ICC Cricket U19 World Cup in South Africa on New Year’s Eve.
It will mark the end of a remarkable year for Nyangani, who lost his father when he was five.
Christmas was also merry for him and family.
“We had a family gathering with friends and it was beautiful to see,” said Nyangani.
“It ended up being a send-off ceremony, of sorts, but I had a really good Christmas.
“Seeing my mother happy makes me proud, she has sacrificed for me and my young sister Tawananyasha (12), who plays tennis.
“My mom is a vendor; so you can imagine how life is, but trust me her efforts are amazing.
“As a son you can’t take that for granted.”
His mother, Florence, sees the hand of God in her family.
“We are a prayerful family and when you these things happening you can only give praise to God,” she said.
“I sell airtime; I am a vendor, but that has not stopped me from helping my kids realise their dreams …
“Tadiwa always says ‘Mama I will change our life, it’s a matter of time’.
“We are happy with what he has achieved, we are overjoyed.
“I am pleased he is bright in school, as well, having passed nine out of 10 ‘O’ Level subjects.”
Tadiwa’s first coach — a Bindura cricket legend himself — Ishmael “Nyundo” Senzere who played 11 First Class matches for Eagles is pleased with Nyangani’s progression.
“He is now an inspiration to the other kids,” Senzere said.
“It’s a great achievement to us, as a province, and I would like to thank coach (Prosper) Utseya for identifying and working hard with the boy.
“I think it will motivate young cricketers in the province to work extra hard,” he said.
Zimbabwe U19 coach Utseya is, however, modest in his tribute to Nyangani’s Bindura coaches.
“I took over from them; but it’s his coaches who helped a lot, a sign that Zimbabwe Cricket’s development programme is important.
“Tadiwa is a rare breed, so there is need to continue spreading development across the country.
“Tadiwa is a quiet and prayerful boy; and I believe he will be a success for Zimbabwe cricket in the future, “ said Utseya.
Tadiwa has a dream to give back to his community.
“I wish to have an academy of U13-U19 and also build another ground in Bindura.
“We have the Bindura Country Club, it’s an important place for us, and we are grateful to have that facility.”
So how did left-arm wrist spinners become “Chinamen”?
One version relates to a Test match between England and the West Indies at Old Trafford in 1933.
Ellis Achong, a player of Chinese origin, was a left-arm orthodox spinner, playing for the West Indies.
He had Walter Robins stumped off a surprise delivery that spun into the right-hander from outside the off stump.
As he walked back to the pavilion, Robins reportedly said to the umpire, “fancy being done by a bloody Chinaman!”, leading to the popularity of the term in England and, subsequently, the rest of the world.
Well, Zimbabwe’s Chinaman is from Bindura and he is set to rock the world.
Zimbabwe is in Group C with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Scotland for the tournament running from January 17 – February 9 in South Africa.
