Nyasango sets pace for London Marathon runners

Pace-making has become a financial lucrative job for fast runners, who are instructed by organisers to set a cracking pace up-front for competitors before stepping aside from the race usually at the half-way point.
Dave Bedford, the race director for one of the world’s most popular marathons said, the Zimbabwean was picked because of his excellent running abilities.Another Zimbabwean, Abel Chimukoko of the ZR Police Athletics Club, has also, in the past, worked as a pace-maker in some big running events.Today’s marathon has a large entry, including reigning world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya, his country-mate and defending London Marathon champion Martin Lel and South African champion Hendrick Ramaala.At the recent IAAF championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, Nyasango was the only Zimbabwean representing the country.
The former Kuwadzana schoolboy coached by Ben Chauke was the best placed runner from all southern African countries, finishing a remarkable 27th in the 12km race in a time of 36 minutes and 27 seconds.
Four other Zimbabweans  – the the vastly experienced Tabitha Tsatsa, up-and-coming Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine in Gwanda, juniors Justin Sabao and Jonathan Chinyoka, and team manager Claver Machiridza, failed to arrive in Scotland for the competition.Conflicting reports said the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) could not raise funds for the trip or that they were denied visas by British immigration.

Rally driver makes history

Conrad Rautenbach in action.

Zimbabwe’s African Rally Champion Conrad Rautenbach became the first driver from Zimbabwe to score points in the World Rally Championship.He gained his five drivers’ championship points in a 5:25:12,1s performance, with the help of his British co-driver David Senior, bringing their Citroen C4 home in fourth place overall.Rautenbach (23) made history in Argentina, when he finished behind world champion and team-mate Sebastien Loeb from France. Second and third places were clinched by Australia’s Chris Atkinson and Spanish driver Dani Sordo.The 23-year-old Rautenbach’s fourth place is easily his best result. His previous highest finish came during the Rally Deutschland last season when he finished 14th.
The previous best result for a Zimbabwean driver was by his father Billy, who finished 11th in the 1992 Kenya Safari Rally in a Toyota Celica GT-Four.

Basketball showdown postponed
 
BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
HARARE

The Under-18 Zone Six Basketball Championships, which were postponed to later this month, have again been moved, this time to May 17 to 24 because of the political situation in the country.The move has also affected the regional women’s club championships the country was scheduled to host next month. The Basketball Union of Zimbabwe will now stage the event in June.BUZ President Addison Chiware said: This will not be taken as a disadvantage but it is good for the team because they will utilise the time to intensify their preparations.A team of talented schoolboys and schoolgirls have already been selected to represent the country at the prestigious week-long event with Ngoni Mukukula and Kizito Mudzviti appointed as the head coaches for the women’s and men’s teams.Meanwhile, JBC and Varsity Leopards will be the two teams from the host country when the Zone Six Women’s Club Championships explode into life following the Harare team’s conquest at the national championship, held in the capital, last month.
The two teams are at the top of the log standings in the Harare Basketball League, with national champions JBC leading the pack having suffered no defeat.This year’s National Men’s Championships are set for April 18 in Harare, as the reigning champions, Kingdom Cavaliers, get set to defend their title.
According to BUZ administrator, Simon Lawson, Harare is expected to send eight teams, while other provinces will be represented by 50 per cent of their league teams.
National teams
Men: Kudakwashe Makanda, Tatenda Makombe, Vitalis Chikoko, Tonderai Mzilikazi, Wellington Kasosera, Evans Gasva, Tatenda Maturure, Kuziva Mango, Tawanda Nemutambure, Tafadzwa Mutandwa, Tafadzwa Gonyora, Nathan Warikandwa, Nicolas Kwaramba, Adios Gano, Simbarashe Chitsungwe.
Women: Shallen Lusinga, Simukai Matshalaga, Paula Keta, Vlssom Ndebele, Lobunkosi Ndlovu, Catherine Mwandiimbira, Chiedza Rwodzi, Rachel Makoni, Yolanda Matayataya, Talent Samu, Precious Kazanhi, Docus Marondera, Luckia Wenda,Tracy Tseura, Sharon Chamwarura.

Gunners in date with Lengthens
 
BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
HARARE

The Gunners duo of Zhain Jambo and Thanx Tengwe will be expected to continue their commendable performance to lead the league debutantes into a victory over Lengthens at Gwanzura Stadium today (Sunday).Gunners won their first two matches in the CBZ premier soccer league against Motor Action and Underhill, with an identical 2-1 victory. Tengwe and Jambo were the two men behind their side’s conquest.Gunners’ team manager Wellington Mpandare told The Zimbabwean on Sunday they were not going to underestimate Lengthens. They are a good side, they won their first game against Masvingo in Mucheke and it’s something creditable.We are just going to stick to our game and make sure we utilise every chance we get, said Mpandare.Coached by former founder member of Gunners, Moses Chunga, Lengthens joined the CBZ-sponsored 16-team league at the beginning of the 2007 soccer season.
Despite not coming close to winning the championship, the newcomers proved a force to reckon with by surviving relegation.With Gunners out to prove that their promotion to the country’s most competitive soccer league was not a fluke, Lengthens will be eager to show how bigger and better its players have become.Before clashing again in the CBZ FA Cup last year, the two sides dated in the Northern Region division one league in 2006.

Off the field

WITH GRACE CHIRUMANZU

Shy and quiet, seemed the right words to describe the Mighty Bulls’ award-winning skipper the first time Grace Chirumanzu met him at Callies Sports Club. But not long into her interview, Clemence Matawu revealed his true colours – audacious and outspoken.

GC: Who were your childhood heroes?
CM: Peter Ndlovu.
GC: Who do you consider as PSL best players?
CM: Justice Majabvi, Louis Matawu and myself, of course.
GC: What do you think was really causing the poor performance by your team when you were struggling in the relegation zone last season?
CM: I think we were just unfortunate but we were performing at our best. We were also trying to come to terms with the Hungarian coach and at the same time the coach needed time to watch how we play.
GC: From Keegan Mumba to the Hungarian coach, from the Hungarian coach to Josten Matutu. Do you think this change of coaches will affect you this season?
CM: Not this time around. The man (Matutu) is doing a great job and he is very close to every player, a father figure. If ever we are going to change our play because of him, we will change into a much better performance.
GC: Can you tell me a funny story from camp?
CM: The boys will kill me if I tell you of one funny story I know but I can tell you of something in the hood. There is this young man who looks a bit like me in my neighbourhood who would go around making debts to vendors with my name. I had one woman bugging me for the $10m she claimed l owed her for maputi the other time, all because of that boy.
GC: Who from your team are you closest to?
CM: Clyde Masiya and Prince Matore.
GC: What else do you enjoy doing other than playing football?
CM: Hanging with friends, especially Lovemore Mapuya of Dynamos. Oh, and of course eating. I’m in love with my food.
GC: Speaking of DeMbare, have you ever considered joining the league giants at one point?
CM: Never did. Those were rumours based on my closeness with Mapuya.
GC: Well if you were to be offered big sums of money would you go for it?
CM: Money is not really the major factor in one’s moving from one club to another in Zimbabwe. You may get situations where you will be promised big sums like you are saying but you will get it after three months when it’s nothing.
GC: Have you ever felt that you wasted your talent with the Mighty Bulls?
CM: Not at all because of all that l have achieved. I have done it through Motor Action.
GC: Do you dream of playing football down south one day?
CM: That is every player’s dream, but with me I don’t really mind playing anywhere, as long as I am progressing.
GC: Of all the defenders in the league who have you found to be tough to play against?
CM: It’s Mapuya. We have known each other for some time and he knows how I play.
GC: How do you see your young brother Louis’ performance on the field?
CM: He has greatly improved. If he stays focused and disciplined he is surely destined for dizzy heights.
GC: What’s with that hairstyle?
CM: Well, I haven’t kept my hair this long all my life and I’m just trying a new look, something to be identified with.
GC: I understand you are not married. How is your love life?
CM: I’m engaged to be married.
GC: What is it about that people say about football players that you hate?
CM: The notion that soccer stars have no direction in life and that we are players on- and off-the-field.
 
Factfile

Full name:           Clemence Matawu
Date of birth:  29/11/1982
Place of birth:  Bindura
Position:  Midfielder
Current club:  Motor Action
Previous clubs: Shamva Mine F.C
Honours:  2006 Soccer Star of the Year

Sport in brief

Kickboxers face-off in front of selectors
 
BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
HARARE

The road to the prestigious Open African Kickboxing Championships, which the country is set to host next month, opens up on Saturday with the Independence Trophy.Over 100 fighters will meet in a potentially blazing face-off of the full contact and K1 kickboxing contests as they battle it out for the 2008 championship title.The Independence Trophy will be held at Girls’ High School in the presence of national selectors to pick outstanding fighters to represent the country at the continental kickboxing extravaganza.
The two-day showpiece will burst into life on May 24 with countries such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa fielding their top kickboxers.Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association President Tony Kamangira told The Zimbabwean on Sunday the response is overwhelming and we are expecting more countries to confirm their participation.According to Kamangira, who is also the African Kickboxing Confederation, Zone Six Vice-President, the continental showdown will go a long way in promoting the martial art sport in the country.2007 All Africa Games bronze medallist Brighton Tangata will be among the country’s representatives thanks to the morale booster of his silver medal in South Africa last month.

Karatekas head for Cape Town fight

BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
HARARE

A 15-member national team will leave the country tomorrow for the Knockout Kyokushin karate tournament in South Africa’s port city of Cape Town on April 19.The country’s top karate fighters will battle it out for honours in three categories, light, middle and open-weight.Fighters are Admire Chingozhoro (open-weight), Samson Muripo, Kelly Mutisi, Likhwa Khumalo, George Mutambo, Owen Murakati (middle-weight), Muchineripi Tarwirei, Geoffrey Matavi and Robson Mucheni (light-weight).
Sensei Muripo said: We will stand the heat at the tightly contested last man standing’ tournament. We have been meeting for training and I am positive it is going to pay off.The team is expected back in the country on April 22 to help the junior karatekas intensify their preparations for the annual Len Barnes Memorial Tournament to be staged in South Africa in June.The junior fighters taking part in the showpiece were selected at this year’s Homegate Kyokushin Cup held in Harare.

Cricket tour is off, says Indian board

Not again! Zimbabwe Cricket President Peter Chingoka can’t be happy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has postponed the country’s tour of Zimbabwe, which had been scheduled to take place in June.The inaugural season of the Indian Premier League ends on June 1and India have announced a tri-nations tournament involving Pakistan and hosts Bangladesh between June 8 and 14, which leaves no time for a trip to Zimbabwe.We have decided to put off the tour of Zimbabwe. The hectic calendar makes it quite impossible and we have conveyed the decision to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah.Following the tournament in Bangladesh, India travel to Pakistan to play in the Asia Cup, which begins on June 24.The sub-continent team will then visit Sri Lanka in July for three tests and five one-day internationals.The news is a big blow to Zimbabwe Cricket, who will now not play a series until they host Sri Lanka in November.

Hard work ahead of World Cup for Warriors

The ZIFA board has started working on a programme for Zimbabwe’s senior national soccer team ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals to be held in South Africa.According to the presentation made at the ZIFA Council meeting, the football association has come up with a consolidated calendar of events for the senior national team’s commitments in the joint 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Other than their engagements in the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers, the Warriors will also play in the newly introduced African Nations Championship.The Nations Championships finals in Cote d’Ivoire next year will be held along the same lines as the African Nations Cup, but this tournament is only open to players plying their trade in the domestic leagues on the continent. Zimbabwe will play Namibia on the weekend of May 2 at home the same time the Under-20 team will host Lesotho in the reverse leg of the African Youth Championship.The next Zifa Council Meeting is set for June.
 
Loss can’t steal ranking from Black

Cara Black and Liezel Huber are still ranked as the best women’s tennis doubles in the world, despite losing in the Sony Ericsson ATP/WTA Open tournament in Miami, United States to Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia and Japan’s Ai Sugiyama last Sunday.Black and Huber lost 7-5, 4-6, 10 -3 in the final of the US$7.54m hard-court tournament.According to the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Doubles Rankings, which were released yesterday from the United States, Black and Huber are still sitting at the top of the pile with 4,885 points each. Black and Huber, received 350 WTA Tour points for reaching the finals.They are now 785 points ahead of Sugiyama who remained in third place ahead of her partner Srebotnik.According to the latest WTA Tour Prize Money List for 2008, which was also released this week, Black, in 25th place, has now amassed a total of US$179,682 on the road this year.