The Sunday Mail
Deputy Sports Editor
IN a sport dominated by statistics, the story of Kudzai Mutiti is best understood through the prism of his irrepressible spirit and personality.
It is fair to say that, as a cricket player, he does not quite measure up to elite status given that he only managed to play a slew of games for Mountaineers from Under-14 right up to Under-19.
He also had a club cricket stint with Marondera-based Titans.
However, his contemporaries and childhood friends such as Tarisai Musakanda, Richard Ngarava and William Masinge have been able to play cricket at the highest level.
But it is through what Hokima Cricket Academy has been doing in Mashonaland East province that the name Mutiti is spoken with reverence.
His humble beginnings — which saw the 29-year-old, at one time, selling airtime and vegetables on the streets — also make his life story fascinating.
“Never give up,” said Mutiti on his secret to success.
“If you have a dream, you have to chase it with every fibre of your being.
“Don’t let people talk you down or influence you from chasing your dreams and goals.”
Hokima or hokhmah is a Hebrew term that means wisdom, which Mutiti hopes to impart to the next generation of cricketers.
His academy is mainly targeting players between the ages of seven and 12 years.
“Hokima is a Hebrew word that means wisdom, and I would like to believe that we teach more than basic cricket fundamentals here,” said the 29-year-old.
“I had the privilege of playing with and against some top players, most of whom have played at the highest level.
“Our slogan here is ‘catch them young’, and we have identified those between seven and 12 years of age as the ideal target group to teach them the basics of the game.
“We teach them how to catch a ball, hold a bat and everything in between.
“Above all else, we teach life skills and occasionally hold leadership and life skills camps. We get people who have played the game at the highest level to come and interact with these kids.”
Hokima Cricket Academy is located in Paradise Park, off Mutare Road.
It has an academy office, analysis room, cricket nets and a small skills field covering over 2 400 square kilometres of land owned by Mutiti’s father Douglas.
The place is also home to 40 children and a five-member coaching staff.
The number could have been bigger if it had not been for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mutiti juggles his duties as founder of Hokima Cricket Academy with other roles that include a coaching gig at Peterhouse Boys School, being chairperson of Titans Cricket Club, as well as a board member of the Mashonaland East Cricket Board.
He does all this for the love of the game.
“Cricket has always been my first love, though I did play football and dabbled in athletics for a bit during my formative years,” he said.
“I started playing cricket when I was in Grade Three and was introduced to the sport by a man by the name of Mr Gwatiringa.
“I can’t, for the life of me, remember his first name.
“I played provincial cricket for Mountaineers from Under-14 level right up to Under-19, and also had stints with the Mashonaland East Cricket Association, also known as MECA, and Titans.”
It was during those days that he played alongside and against Musakanda, Masinge, Ryan Burl and Ngoni Chibuwe, who is now a prolific rugby player with the Zimbabwe Sables.
Mutiti believes his career would have progressed well if he had all the resources he required.
“I also struggled academically, and cricket was my outlet,” said Mutiti.
“I played the game for about six years and decided to quit so that I could use my strengths, which are sports administration,” he said.
This is when the idea of the Hokima Cricket Academy was born.
“In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges we faced was resources, and I found a solution in a prime piece of land my parents own.
“This is where we set up the academy. Over time, it has grown in leaps and bounds.
“I have used my own resources mostly and received assistance from companies like AC Motorworld, individuals like Wayne Burger and affiliation fees,” he said.
Plans are underway to find attachments for his cricketers at Titans Cricket Club, schools around the country, as well as some of the local clubs and franchises.
Twitter: @Nashaar
