Sports Briefs

THE Basketball Union of Zimbabwe is set to host Namibia, Botswana and Zambia in the 2007 annual ZINABOZA Championships, scheduled for 19-21 December at the City Sports Centre in Harare.

Zimbabwe men are the 2007 defending champions. The hosts are set to intensify preparations for the four-nations basketball showdown with head-coach, former national team point-guard and Kingdom Cavaliers coach, Ronald Garura confident his charges will be out to prove something.

“The teams at ZINABOZA games are equally competitive, they are not to be under-estimated,” he explained. “With good preparation, Zimbabwe can still repeat what they did last year.”

The hosts won the 2006 edition of the showcase in Lusaka, Zambia, a year after their debut appearance in Namibia. The inaugural ZINABOZA tournament was staged in 2004 in Zambia featuring only Namibia, Botswana and Zambia, then called NABOZA Championships.

Four women’s teams are also set to clash for the 2007 ZINABOZA Championship title in the absents of the defending champions, a 2006 invited Democratic Republic of Congo Limpopo province.

Zimbabwe women appear favorites among the three other nations, after their participation at the prestigious, ninth All Africa Games held in Algiers, Algeria, last July. – Gracey Chirumanzu

Mushangazhike joins Orland Pirates

ZIMBABWE national team striker Gilbert Mushangazhike has left the Chinese league to  join South African Premiership giants Orlando Pirates on a two year deal.  

Pirates’ chairman Irvin Khoza was quoted on the club’s website saying he believes Mushangazhike’s experience will come in handy to complement promising striker Excellent Walaza.

It remains to be seen whether Mushangazhike will be able to rediscover the form that made him a household name during his stay in South Africa where he turned out for Manning Rangers.

Former Highlanders striker Ralph Matema who joined the Bucanners before the start of the season in Augus has been plagued by injuries.

“The boy needs no introduction to the local game. He is in good physical shape and that says to me he was exposed to good physical conditioning in the rigours of Chinese football,” said Khoza.

Benjani mourns Africa Cup of Nations

ZIMBABWE striker Benjani Mwaruwari this week admitted that he finds it hard to believe that he will not be playing at next year’s African Cup of Nations.

Benjani, who plays for English side Portsmouth, could not help his country qualify for the tournament in Ghana.

He admits participating in the last two editions of the tourney has helped the development of the game in his country.

He told BBC sport that: “It’s terrible to be absent at the tournament but we had three teams in the group and it was very tough. We had a nice experience last year in Egypt and it exposed a lot of our old and young players to the atmosphere of such tournaments.

“It would have been nice to make another return to such a prestigious football festival to continue the development of the game in my country.”

Portsmouth will lose the likes of Sulley Muntari, Papa Bouba Diop and John Utaka for the tournament in January.

As his four African teammates prepare to travel to Ghana, Benjani is content with a nerve wrecking banter.

“They (Kanu, Utaka, Muntari and Diop) always make fun of me but that’s the price you pay for missing out on such a big tournament,” Benjani told BBC Sport.

“They always warn me not allow the team swim in relegation zone while they are away, but it’s all good. I know the importance of such a big competition but I will focus on my club football and hope for the best next time around.

With the Cup of Nations taking place in less than six weeks, Benjani said the Warriors are determined to make amends during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Zimbabwe are drawn in Group Two with Guinea, Namibia and Kenya in what should be a comfortable pairing for the Warriors, but Benjani is cautious.

“It’s a tricky one, if we make it out of the first round, it will be tough in the second because the bigger teams are waiting there,” Benjani said.

Musona’s memorable hat-trick

ZIMBABWE super-substitute Knowledge Musona rose from the bench and hammered a memorable hat-trick that sank South Africa’s Amajita 3-0 in an exciting Metropolitan COSAFA Under 20 Championships encounter played at Thulamahashe Stadium, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Musona scored with his first touch, seconds after coming on, and rounded off an amazing individual display with two further goals late into the game. The game got off to a flier. In the first minute the inspiring Aupa Manyisa long range effort sailed inches wide with visiting goalkeeper, Noel Soko, well beaten.

In an interview, Musona, said he carefully studied the South African defence before being introduced into the field of play. “It’s my first time to score a hat-trick in competition of such magnitude. This is a memorable hat-trick for me and my fellow Zimbabwean players,” said Muson.

Zimbabwe under-20 captain and Masvingo United striker, Ovidy Karuru, praised his charges arguing that the good discipline displayed paid off.

Zimbabwe had goalkeeper Noel Soko voted the keeper of the tournament, whilst the Young Warriors won the fair play award from FIFA before rounding off with the crown for the COSAFA Championship trophy.

Teams:  South Africa- Mabokgwane-  Mphahlele, Hlatshwayo, Molekwane, Mgcoyana, Matle -  Nkambule, Serero, Manyisa- Mateba (Myeni, 43), Ntuli Subs not used- Makhathini, Coetzee, Volschenk, Twala, Sondlane, Khwela Zimbabwe- Nico-  Soko, Raelo, Goddard- Rusike, Mabeza, Kamusoko, Gutu (Musona,59), Ushe- Karuru, Nyandoro Subs no used- Maziwisa, Ushe, Mangezi, Machakata, Mpala. – Own correspondent

Blind cricket commentator accuses ZC of bias

OUTSPOKEN cricket analyst, Dean Du Plessis, who pulls no punches when he talks of the state of the Zimbabwean game, was sidelined in the just ended Ten Sports/Croco motors One Day International series, The Zimbabwean has learnt.

The blind radio and television commentator who felt his candid talk got Zimbabwe Cricket out to teach him something said he had been treated “unfairly on the basis that I’m blind and because I’m white.”

“ZC doesn’t like me because I’m outspoken, they don’t want to be told the truth,” he said.

Television newsreader, Hugo Ribatika and former Zimbabwean pace bowler, Douglas Hondo, were among the commentators on television. Ribatika disappointed most cricket enthusiasts with his “obvious comments.”

“Hugo Ribatika may be a sports commentator but when it comes to cricket live on tv, we need someone who is analytical. The man spent most of his time making obvious comments that any of us could have made…” said a cricket fan who requested anonymity. – Gracey Chirumanzu

Commendable effort from golfers

THE Zimbabwe amateur golf team finished a commendable 14th place at the International Team Championships, one of the continent’s premier amateur competitions played from 24 to 25 November at Maccauvlei Golf Club, outside Johannesburg.

Brain Gondo, Laifoti Yadyo, Shane Johnson and Mahommed Mandhu represented Zimbabwe in the prestigious competition which attracted entries from a total of 24 teams from four countries namely, Philippines, Swaziland, Zimbabwe hosts South Africa fielding 21 teams from its provinces who took part in the 72 hole stroke play competition which was reduced to 54 holes after the first round was rained off.

Playing in wet weather conditions did not help any of the four Zimbabwean amateur golfers make an impression on the leader board finishing on a combined aggregate score of 667 while South Africa’s provincial side Gauteng North A romped to victory on 623 points ahead of Central A 625, Central B 642 while Philippines A finished fourth on 645.

The leading Zimbabwean was Mahommed Mandhu tied on 28th position on three-over par 21 9 with rounds of 75- 71- 73. Four shots adrift of him were Brian Gondo ( 74- 79- 70 ) and Laifoti Yadyo ( 70- 76- 77 ) on seven- over- par 223 while the other player Shain Johnson finished nine- over- par 225 ( 73- 73- 79 ) lying 65th in the championship.

South Africa’s Louis Moolman emerged the overall individual winner on 11 – under- par 205, three shots ahead of countryman Adrian Scwartzel on eight- under- par 208

National team coach Roger Baylis who traveled with the team said the team’s 14th place finish should not be viewed in bad light.

“Our team finished second in the International Team Championship which is a fair result as we are intensifying our preparations for next year’s Zone Six Championships in Zambia and the World Amateur Team Championships in Australia, therefore I was impressed with the team’s showing at the International Team Championships as some of the players will form the bulk of next year’s teams, “said Baylis.

Junior golfers optimistic

SEVEN of Zimbabwe’s top junior golfers left for Malawi to tee up in the second edition of the Tri Nations Tournament, a three nation competition played between Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe at Jainama Golf Club, in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The three-day event teed off on Tuesday. Zimbabwe has entered a strong team of Mark MacDonald, Tapiwa Mabikacheche, Clive Nguru, Ray Engelbrecht, Scot Ferguson and Kayim Mandhu.

Zimbabwe Junior Golf Association president, Roger Baylis, who traveled with the team accompanied by Zimbabwe Amateur Golf Association president Much Masunda said the Tri Nations Tournament is a bid to help in the development of golf in the region as well as to develop the standard of play in the three countries.  

Zim Soccer Star causes havoc at Buccaneers

Zimbabwe’s 32-year-old striker Gilbert Mushangazhike’s new signing has seen Orlando Pirates Coach Owen Da Gama clashing with the management. Orlando Pirates, popularly known as Buccaneers, has been facing huge problems in its striking force.

“How can Pirates sign a 32-year-old player without input from technical staff members who would have been better placed to properly ascertain whether Mushangazhike still retained the qualities that made him one of the most feared strikers,” questioned Pirates coach.

Before his departure to Beijing club Jiangsu Sainty in February 2003, Mushangazhike was one of the most feared strikers in South Africa and Pirates are confident he will do the same magic this time around.

The dreadlocked Mushangazhike made records in South Africa in 2001 and 2002 whilst he was playing for Manning Rangers a Durban based football club with a record of cup winnings. In 2000/2001  season Mushangazhike was SA’s PSL top goal scorer with 22 goals.

The former PSL top goal scorer has been a free agent since leaving his Chinese club Jiangsu Shuntian at the end of last season, in which he finished top scorer with 15 goals. Mushangazhike was also in the wanted list by the current PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns football club. – Trust Matsilele