The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
TITUS Zvomuya lives by the simple mantra, “integrity and objectivity’’.
But these are not just empty words taken from a book, pamphlet or the quotes of some famous writer, these are words that are a by-product of a 40-year journey in sports administration.
A journey that took a young boy from the dusty streets of Marondera to the bright arenas of Maracanã and Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos stadiums in Brazil at the (Rio Olympics), the Salle Staouali, Centre Equestre de Maramen and the Stade 5 Juillet in Algeria (2007 Africa Games), via the halls of the Zimbabwe Cricket and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.
He has also been to the Sport and Recreation Commission Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and most recently Bindura University of Science Education.
It is at Bindura University that the veteran administrator, who has literally seen it all in domestic sport, is currently stationed and at the age of 60, he still hopes to add another feather to his already storied career, and hopefully change a life or two.
“It is at Bindura University of Science Education where I serve now as the director of the National Sports Academy, and I hope to continue doing what I enjoy doing the most.
“The goal is to pluck athletes from the back of beyond, develop them and see them reach their full potential both academically and as professional athletes.
“Some of them who initially had 8 Us at O-Level, from an abandoned and forgotten rural school, are now studying at university and have gone to countries I have never been to myself through sport,” Zvomuya said.
Born on January 30, 1959, it looks like Zvomuya was always destined for greater things.
“I was a very adventurous pupil who happened to have been fortunate enough to go to one of the best primary schools in Manicaland Province (Dowa Council School).
“This is the school that produced some of the country’s best sporting personalities and administrators, among them the Masenda brothers Admire and Darlington, Tsimba brothers (Richard and Kennedy), Sambos, Musukutwas, Nyatangas and Edmore Sadomba to name, but a few.”
Zvomuya would maintain that trend by attending Bernard Mizeki for his secondary education, before furthering his education by attaining a diploma in Education and Education Technology at the University of Calgary in Canada, a Bachelors in Education and Masters in Administration from the University of Zimbabwe.
He also sought coaching licences in cricket, rugby, football, basketball, netball, tennis and athletics, all which helped prepare him for the journey that lay ahead.
Zvomuya has seen many highs and lows, and he believes that every achievement, failure and milestone has helped in making him the man he is today.
On the highs — watching the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry swim in Algeria and Brazil — ranks among some of his most cherished memories.
It is at these two meets that the Honourable Minister made a record haul of seven gold and three silver African Games medals in Algeria, and then swam her last Olympic race in Brazil.
“Being Kirsty Coventry’s Chef de Mission in Rio and Algeria — for the Olympics and African Games — was a very humbling experience for me.
“She is one of the most inspirational athletes I have ever worked with; a very hardworking, committed and patriotic citizen.
“Kirsty is among the top most cherished people I have been blessed to work with alongside the likes of Grant Flower, Tatenda Taibu, Peter and Patrick Chingoka, Tauya Murehwa and Professor Canaan Banana,” he said.
But for every high, there has been a low and one in particular still leaves a sour taste in Zvomuya’s mouth.
“One of my biggest lows were a few developments that occurred during the late ’90s when I was the Sports Director at the University of Zimbabwe.
“Together with the late Professor Canaan Banana and so many other well-to-do modern administrators, we came up with a football academy that recruited quite a number talented footballers into our university team.
“We had the likes of Benjani Mwaruwaru, Lovemore Mapuya and Tauya Murehwa and actually came up with a policy that would see at least 70 percent of our players being students. We were well-funded by Dairibord, at the time, and everything was pointing to a bright future.
“The first season, in Division Two, went through without any problems and we quickly got promoted into the First Division.
“This is where I witnessed the ugly side of football. The goal was to spend at least two seasons finding our feet before we played in the Premier Soccer League. Once we made our play for promotion, way too many roadblocks were put in our way such as our goalkeeper receiving a bogus red card, a disallowed goal and being approached by some individuals for bribes all during a crucial promotion game against Trojan Mine one year.
“Another year, we won the league, but were told at the last minute that we would have to go through play-offs against Lulu Rovers from the Southern Region and Blackpool who were fresh from being relegated (from the PSL).
“In both instances, we tried to argue our cases, even took them to the courts, stood firm in our integrity and lost out on promotion.
“Looking back, these and many other highs and lows were learning experiences.
“I take solace in the fact that most of the people I worked with in that project are now successful in their respective fields, and this to me is very gratifying,” Zvomuya said.
An unsung hero, Zvomuya, now a member of the Sports Commission Board, also worked closely with late athletics legend Artwell Mandaza.
