Sports on Sunday

A member of the technical staff, who was recently in South Africa with the team that lost 1-2 to Bafana Bafana, raised concern at the manner in which head coach Valinhos related to his assistants.
He said the Brazilian-born mentor was imposing strategies on his own and did not heed the input of his assistants. The former Zimbabwe international threatened to quit if this continued.
His comments came after the Warriors threw away a one-goal lead and tamely handed victory to an off-form Bafana Bafana last Tuesday in Johannesburg.
He indeed should have the final say on team selection, but for him to refuse the input of assistant coaches defies the whole notion of having assistant coaches. If such a relationship persists, I am afraid I would quit and work with junior national teams where I believe my expertise would be appreciated, the aggrieved assistant said.
Brazilian veteran coach Valinhos was recently appointed to the Warriors hot-seat where former Zimbabwe players David Mandigora, Norman Mapeza and Brenna Msiska assist him.
The foursome are on a mission to lead Zimbabwe into a maiden appearance in the FIFA World Cup 2010, which will be held in South Africa, and the African Nations Cup scheduled for Angola earlier that year.
Perennial underachievers Zimbabwe are pooled in a seemingly navigable Group 2 of the qualifiers together with Guinea, Namibia and Kenya. – CAJ News.

Cara Black and Liezel Huber – hoping for aces in the US.

Top tennis star battles in US tournament

BY SIMON RUSITU
HARARE

Zimbabwe’s top tennis player Cara Black and her American partner Liezel Huber are hoping for victory in the US Sony Ericsson Open just started in Miami, Florida. The pair reached the final last year.
The tournament is the world’s fifth biggest and the only 12-day tennis event on the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendars. The event features all the world’s top-ranked men and women players.
In the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Doubles Rankings, released in New York this week, the two players who have won titles this year, top the list, although they have fallen into third place in the team standings.
In the final last year, Black and Huber reached the final but lost to Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur 6-4, 3-6 (10-2).
Huber had previously reached the final with her then partner Magdalena Maleeva where they beat Shinobu Asagoe of Japan and Paolo Suarez of Argentina 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
In 2006, Huber teamed up with the legendary Martina Navratilova in the final of the same competition, but was downed 6-4, 7-5 by Stosur and Raymond.
With such a run, Black and Huber will be hoping for a second successive final and victory.
The defending champions in the women’s doubles category are Raymond and Stosur, who are seeking a third consecutive win after victory in 2006. -Simon Rusitu

Country selected as kickboxing venue

Zimbabwe has been selected to host the African kickboxing championship league in May this year.
Zimbabwe’s right to host the championship was confirmed at the Great North 1 kickboxing championship held in South Africa last week where the country won seven medals – three silver and four bronze.
Silver medals were won by captain Brighton Tangata, Brian Kupara and Chamunorwa Mutandwa, while the bronze medalists were Colleen Chanakira, Marlvin Chomusora, Knowledge Marodza and Edmore Mutandwa.
Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association President Tonny Kamangira said he was delighted that Zimbabwe has been selected to host such a big tournament in African kickboxing.
The African championships will also be used to select kickboxers to represent their countries at the world kickboxing championships in Italy in June this year.

Bosman flays sorry Zimbabwe

BLOEMFONTEIN

Eagles 181 for 3 (Bosman 94) beat Zimbabwe 85 for 9 by 98 runs

A lethal Loots Bosman condemned Zimbabwe to an awful 98-run defeat at the hands of the Eagles in their Standard Bank Pro20 match in Bloemfontein.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers took some sickening punishment as Bosman plundered 94 off just 50 balls to take the Eagles to 181 for 3 after 17 overs in a rain-interrupted innings. He started sedately, scoring three singles off his first 12 balls, but then exploded into action, hitting six fours and a six off his next 10 balls. Busy innings by Morne van Wyk (21 off 21), Dean Elgar (24 not out off 15) and Ryan McLaren (27 off 17 balls) were the sideshows because the limelight was where it belonged, firmly on Bosman. He reached his half-century in 31 deliveries and struck seven fours and six sixes in all and it was a major surprise when left-arm spinner Keith Dabengwa eventually dismissed him in the 13th over. Bosman’s onslaught ensured that four of the six Zimbabwe bowlers would go for more than 10 runs an over.
Zimbabwe’s target was adjusted to 184 because the home side’s innings was interrupted after 9.5 overs, and the Eagles struck a massive early blow in the Zimbabwe innings when former captain Tatenda Taibu was run out off a wide, without facing a ball, in the first over.
Chamu Chibhabha was run out by Bosman in the next over and Zimbabwe simply had no chance of overcoming the escalating required run-rate. Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor baled some of the water out of the sinking ship, both scoring 28 of 26 balls. But offspinner Thandi Tshabalala then tormented the middle-order, who were hitting out in desperate fashion, to finish with 2 for 16 in his four overs. – Cricinfo

Great goal-scorer and a sociable gentleman, Murape Murape.

Off the field
WITH GRACE CHIRUMANZU
Premiership giants Dynamos Football Club is proud of its key player Murape Murape. Named 2007 soccer star of the year, Murape (27) was described by team-mate Desmond Maringwa as one sociable gentlemen off the field. It only took five minutes into her interview with Murape for Grace Chiumanzu to find out why

GC: Who would you refer as your top five Zimbabwean soccer legends?
MM: George Shaya, Moses Chunga, Peter Ndlovu, John Phiri and Joe Shamba.
GC: Who were your childhood heroes?
MM: Gift Mupariwa, Memory Mucherahowa, Lloyd Mutasa.
GC: How does it feel to wear the captain’s armband and how have the other players responded to it?
MM: It’s an honour and the players have accepted it, since I’m the senior player at the moment.
GC: Do you ever look back in your career and think that you wasted your talent?
MM: I don’t think it’s a waste of time to play football; actually it’s a privilege. The only thing l can say l regret is going to the UK from 200 to 2004. There were a lot of opportunities here at that time and l missed them – and to think I was at my peak then.
GC: What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
MM: Well l can tell you about on the field. It was when I head-butted one defender from Caps United in 1999 after he gave me an elbow off the ball. We were both red-carded. There was also last year when l refused to shake hands with the coaches after being substituted in a game against Chapungu. I went straight to the changing room and l was suspended for a week.  
GC: Tell me a funny story from camp?
MM: Well, my team-mates and I normally rush for food at meals to make sure Sam (Mutenhere) and David (Shoko) are not served before us, because they eat too much. Everyone knows they need twice the meal.
GC: What has been your heartbreaking incident in football?
MM: It was in ’97 when l sustained a knee injury and I was off the field for six months. It’s something that affected my legs and I have since walked differently.
GC: Who is the best player you have played with?
MM: Lloyd Mutasa, Memory Mucherahowa, Tauya Murehwa. There are quite a lot.
GC: What gives you most satisfaction, beating Kepekepe Bhora or Bosso?
MM: Both. Caps have always been a rival team and with Bosso, it’s the battle of the cities. They are both big teams in Zimbabwean football and it’s always a good thing to beat them.
GC: Who have you seen to be the best combination for Dynamos?
MM: I think last week’s game was the best game ever. We had the best combination; we created many chances, something we were failing to do in recent years. We could have managed more goals but still three were not bad.
GC: Have you considered what you will do after you retire? Do you see yourself coaching or something?
MM: Aagh, no! I don’t wish to do anything football related after retiring, but maybe opening a sports bar where I will host De-mbare players and fans.
GC: Which of your team-mates are you closest off the pitch?
MM: Gaza (Desmond Maringwa). We have played for De-mbare together from the junior’s side.
GC: What will you be doing if you are not playing football?
MM: I normally hang out with my friends from the hood, the likes of Blah Billy, Rex and Misheck who I grew up with. Misheck is a staunch Caps United supporter, so we don’t usually talk football; we sit at the corner of the street.
GC: Teasing girls!?
MM: (Laughs) I also sometimes listen to Mukanya’s music and conscious reggae.
GC: How do you spend your hard-earned cash?
MM: I spend it on my family. I have a son and my late young brother’s daughter I look after. The mother is in the UK and has been there for some time now.
GC: How are you managing a long distance relationship?
MM: It’s something that’s so difficult, I have been encouraging her to come back but she is not taking it. Who knows what’s happening there?
GC: So, how are you resisting the temptation of ladies who come to you as a celebrity?
MM: I’m seeing someone at the moment. I’m a man and I need someone just like any man. She is so understanding and I can tell you its nothing to do with my fame. We have known each other for some time and she has accepted my situation. If all goes well, I plan to settle down with her.
Factfile

Full name:   Murape Murape
DoB:   01/06/80
Place of birth:  St. Marys (Harare)
Nickname:  King/ Monya for hire
Position:  Midfielder/Striker
Jersey number : 11
Club:   Started training with Dynamos at the age of 13
Honours: 2007 soccer star of year. 1999 and 2007 Dynamos top goal scorer of the year, with 14 goals in each year.