Sports on Sunday

Kevin Ullyett

PARIS:Zimbabwe’s number one tennis star, Cara Black, and her American partner, Liezel Huber, have retained their spot as the joint world’s top women’s tennis doubles players despite their failure to land the French Open title in Paris last week.
According to the latest Sony Ericsson Championships Team Standings, they are ranked as the world’s top doubles team with 2 822 points followed by the Bondarenko sisters — Alona and Kateryna — of Ukraine who are in second place with 2 205 points.
Black and Huber were unsuccessful in their bid to win their first Grand Slam title of the year when they lost to the Spanish pair of Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual in the semi-finals of the French Open last Wednesday.
They ran out of steam and the Spanish girls beat them in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in one of the major upsets of this year’s tournament.
According to the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Doubles Rankings, which were released yesterday from New York, Black and Huber are still ranked as the joint world number ones with 5 040 points each, they have also retained their place as the top women’s doubles team in the world.
The latest Sony Ericsson WTA Prizemoney List for 2008 was also released yesterday and Black has slipped from 20th to 28th place with a total of US$279 703 after having picked up US$1 540 in the singles, US$266 626 in the doubles with Huber and US$11 537 in the mixed doubles competition.
Huber, on the other hand, dropped from 22nd to 29th place on the same Prizemoney List for 2008 with a total of US$278 394 (US$266 626 with Black in the doubles and US$11 768 in the mixed doubles competition).
Black and Huber received a cheque for US$52 132 for reaching the last four at the French Open.
Another top Zimbabwean player Kevin Ullyett has, meanwhile, made some significant strides up the world’s men’s doubles rankings where he is now ranked in the top 10 with his Swedish partner Jonas Bjorkman.
Ullyett and Bjorkman are now ranked as the 10th-best team in the world with 195 points after reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open where they lost to Brazilian Bruno Soares and Serbian Dusan Vemic last week.
But Ullyett and Bjorkman, who have amassed a total of US$210 515 as a team on the road this year, are well behind the top-ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States who are sitting on top of the pile with 576 points.

Strauss says players may boycott Zimbabwe series
LONDON
According to Andrew Strauss, England players will consider boycotting next summer’s series against Zimbabwe if Robert Mugabe remains in power in Harare, The Guardian reported. Speaking in a panel discussion at Lord’s after the Spirit of Cricket lecture delivered by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the England opener said players would have to examine their consciences if the tour went ahead. Zimbabwe is scheduled to play two Tests and three one-day games in May. The government has indicated that it will refuse visas to the Zimbabwe team if the political situation does not change.
“It is something we are going to have to talk about,” Strauss said. “It has come down to personal preferences and there have been some tough decisions made. I think when we come round to the issue again we all hope that the political situation in Zimbabwe is very different.”
Twenty-four hours earlier, Archbishop Tutu told the Guardian he supported a cricket boycott while Mugabe remained as president. Last night he said: “I think it is fantastic [that the players will consider a boycott] and I hope they do, but it ought not to be left to the players … it ought to be the administrators and even more so governments. I think [the International Cricket Council] are more and more aware of how people are incensed by what is happening and they will be totally out of step if they do nothing.”
Soccer news

Gilbert Mushangazhike
JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe international strikers Gilbert Mushangazhike and Ralf Matema from Orlando Pirates have survived the chop as their club transferred at least 15 players. The Buccaneers, as Pirates are known, off-loaded the players as part of the off-season strategy to build a much stronger side for next season.  Matema, who joined the Buccaneers last year, only played a few games due to recurrent injuries, while Mushangazhike was fast becoming a favourite. The two were victims of former coach, Owen Da Gama’s, local talent policy of only opting for local players. Da Gama left the club last week and this could be a blessing for foreign internationals. Mushangazhike scored a brace for the Warriors while Malawi international Joseph Kamwendo, also with Pirates, scored for Malawi.
“Gilbert did exceptionally well for Zimbabwe over the weekend. They are good players, when we recruited them we knew they were good,” an official said.
Pirates are hunting for a new coach and former Ghana mentor Claude Le Roy is the favourite. Arie Schans or Marcio Maximo coaching Namibia and Tanzania respectively, are possibilities. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe international coach has left his club Moroka Swallows after settling for seventh position on the log last season.
From the terraces

BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
 
Fearsome but vulnerable lions?
Eastern Lions F.C is relegation material this year as long as Brenna Msiska and his bad technical company are in charge to the end. -Topman, Mutare
Why is Kenny Marange allowed to officiate at Sakubva, his home town when we have loads of officials around the country? He is the one killing soccer in general and Eastern Lions in particular. Last year he made sure they beat Dynamos but they ended up fighting relegation and De-mbare was crowned. Yesterday (June 8) he blew the whistle to end the match when Highlanders were heading for all. The match was going Highlanders way and they were definitely going to score. It is not Eastern Lions good home record alone but also Kenny Marange’s hand. This gives a false impression to the team thereby raising this thinking they can match any team. Check their away record. – Soccer fan, Mutare
Kepe Kepe’s future predictions

“Kepe Kepe bhora don’t lose hope machinda, team ndeyedu. De-mbare hakuna chenyu. -Danny Duru,” Bulawayo :
They had just shed their leaves, they have not dried up. Kepe Kepe is coming back. Green for life and hope. – Fabian, Mutare
New look Kepe Kepe. No more draws Jostein, patimire pakaoma. – Tafa C, Zengeza
I just hope and pray that Caps United is relegated, they are not premiership material. Come 2009, Kepe Kepe will be in Division 1. – Anonymous
People should know that soccer is miles away from politics. You should accept defeat. Last year Caps United supporters said it was Bambo doing it because he wanted to make a gap for De-mbare. This year they blame Masomere again forgetting that everything has got its own time. Do they have quality players? Let us think before we act. – Maurice
The executive is to blame at Caps United. The bosses should emulate their colleagues at Monos. They should have faith in their coach; give him the necessary support and time. Mapeza is now getting the desired results after surviving relegation and a false start this year. – Cuthbert Musi
Caps United should fire the executive and players. How many coaches have been fired and still no change? – MuDembare, Gwanda  

Maringwa

Warriors
Behind every warrior plunging into a battle, is a supportive crowd, families concerned about the safety of the fighters while anxiously waiting for the booty. As the Warriors clashed with Kenya in Nairobi June 11, all patriotic Zimbabweans were praying for a win. It is inevitable for staunch football enthusiasts to make a draft of the team line up, or pass their criticism before the game roars into life. – Gracey VC
Good work by the Warriors, though I feel the inclusion of Sadomba will make a good attacking team, he will keep us going. Go Warriors Go. – Ras Joey
Warriors keep accelerating; we need more goal poachers upfront. MaDe-mbare it’s not time for squabbles, tipeiwo maserious veduwee! – Die Hard Dembare
Go Warriors Go. But in midfield we should have players like J. Ngodzo and Evans Chikwaikwai, he is a better striker. – Casman Macheme
If Valinhos is the best coach, Manyatera is the best goalie. – E.Magwisa
Are you looking for a good goalkeeper? Don’t waste your time, go to Hippo Valley F.C in Division 1. Spy their goalie; he is one of the best in the country. – Manzwara, Mutare
Thumps up to the boys. But Ngwenya and Takesure Chinyama ngavatipewo maserious -Anonymous
Thank you Warriors for conquering the fake Warriors of Namibia. I’m praying for the same against Kenya. Benjy usatye kutungamirira nekuti tinewe. Come 2010 we will be here in South Africa. To all MaDe-mbare let us keep the unity because we are there to conquer the other Africans. Mandigora should return the armband to Majabvi Justice. -Tonderai Mashaire, South Africa
Go Warriors Go! Zim will win 2-nil. The technical department should start with Chinyama, Majabvi and Matawu in the places of Shereni, Mushangazhike and Ngwenya. – Dembare for life
We can not compare the great Nsukuzonke to the little Undertaker. Peter loved the Warriors while Benjani’s loyalty is suspect. Peter scored great goals. – Nkosi
Well done to the Warriors. Please can someone send me a Warriors t-shirt? I love them and I live in S.A – Richard Dube, South Africa
Well done to the Warriors, we had a good start with Valinhos, keep it well guys. – Olivia, Glen Norah

Desmond Maringwa off the field
 
GRACE CHIRUMANZU

In her latest interview below, Grace Chirumanzu was kept laughing by Gazza’s candid but funny attitude.
 
G.C Who was your childhood hero?
D.M Joel Shambo
G.C Do you ever look back in your career and think that you wasted your talent?
D.M No, I don’t have regrets for choosing my career.
G.C Tell me something funny you and your boys do?
D.M The guys from De-mbare will make sure that they make fun of you when you slip your tongue. You just have to be careful what you say in front of them.
G.C What has been your most heartbreaking moment in football?
D.M When I suffered a knee injury in August 2000.
G.C Which team in the local and in the African Champions League would you take pride in beating?
D.M In football, winning is always good. It always a great feeling, but most importantly it is how you would have played that day that makes a team win or lose.
G.C Who are the great players you have played with on the same side in your career as a footballer?
D.M Eish! They are quite a lot of them. The likes of Memory Mucherahowa, Lloyd Mutasa, Calisto Pasuwa, Claudius Zviripai, Tauya Murehwa, Enerst Chirambadare, George Mandizvidza, Watson Muhoni.
G.C Which of your teammates are you closest to off the field?
D.M Maybe Norman Maroto, we have a bond but I think I’m really close to everyone. When you are a team I don’t believe in holding grudges, we are just a happy lot.
G.C What would you be doing if you weren’t playing football?
D.M I enjoy basketball and I usually find time to go and watch the league games. I knew Nyasha Mushekwi from basketball before he came to football.
G.C Who do you consider PSL best players?
D.M We have not played enough games to notice, there hasn’t been much consistency in the players. There are players with great potential in the league, the only problem with young guys is that they tend to lose focus when they are given a lot of publicity early.
G.C What caused your first defeat of the season to Monos?
G.C We cannot win them all. We knew one day we would lose but we just didn’t know when and against whom? But it got to our hearts and made us hungrier for a win. We have made it a thing of the past and are focusing on what is next.
G.C Of all of the defenders in the league, who have you found to be tough to play against?
D.M Every opponent is always difficult to play against. They play differently all the time and it is something one has got to get used to. It is really a challenge.
G.C What do you make of Zimbabwean football?
D.M There is talent in Zimbabwe, Dynamos have made it to the mini league, which shows that. The only major concerns are the pitches and the financial gains. Many players have gone to South Africa and excelled but it is something we can only do here if more sponsors come in. We need to nurture the talent here at home.
G.C Have you ever challenged a referee during a match?
D.M No. I believe we must work hand in hand. If he says there is a fowl and I see it to be controversial, I must step up to him and politely ask him to explain and he should be man enough to do that.
G.C Your side is facing Gunners on June 8, how do you rate the new boys?
D.M They are playing very well. If you look at their results, they beat Motor Action and had some draws with big teams. They also have good players.
G.C What is your prediction of Zimbabwe/Kenya match to be played at Rufaro, next Sunday?
D.M We will win 3-0.
G.C If national coach, Valinhos, was to come to you for advice for one of his line ups, what best advice would you give him?
D.M Mmmm… That one is difficult for me to comment because I’m an interested party. (He laughs)
G.C What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?
D.M I lost my mother at a very tender age and I never got the chance to feel the mother’s love everyone talks about.