G.C Do you miss Zimbabwe?
A.F I do. I am a Zimbabwean. I still have friends and family there and we are totally committed to the Zimbabwe cricket cause. We experienced tremendous highs and lows that you can only experience through total commitment.
G.C Who are you still in touch with from the Jeof Marsh-coached Zim side?
A.F Alistair Campbell, Dirk Viljoen and Craig Evans who all still live in Zimbabwe. Of course I see my brother often, and chat with Henry Olonga on the phone every month or so. I occasionally bump into Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin.
G.C Do you ever look back in your career and say you wasted your talent?
A.F No. I would say that I maximized on the talent I had.
G.C How is your brother?
A.F Grant is well. He is playing for Essex in the County Championship in England. He is 38 and contemplating retirement to begin his coaching career.
G.C Do you see yourself coaching cricket back in Zimbabwe one day?
A.F It’s a possibility. However there would have to be a change in the country’s leadership and Zimbabwe cricket leadership for that to happen.
G.C What do you make of the current Zimbabwean players? Do you think the young players have a future?
A.F I think they are exceptionally talented. However, I do feel sorry for them. They have no first class structure to learn their trade, and their international cricket is soon to be restricted.
G.C Of all the tours you have had so far, which one did you enjoy most?
A.F India, it has such a vibrant cricket culture that playing the game there is truly stimulating!
G.C Tell me a funny story you still remember from one of your camps in the Zimbabwean team with the other players?
A.F I remember Guy Whittal trying desperately to find his seat on an Australian flight. He was studying his boarding card intently, and wondering where seat QF 52 was. Quantas Flight 52 was in fact the flight number for the trip between Perth and Sydney! G.C What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
A.F Leaving school and embarking on a career in accountancy!
G.C Tell us about your family.
A.F I have a wife, Rebecca, and 3 kids, Jamie, Sam and Danielle. You know about Grant. My parents live in the UK.
G.C What has your most heartbreaking moment in cricket been?
A.F Probably retiring from Zimbabwe International cricket prematurely in 2003.
G.C What did you make of Zimbabwe ‘s surprise victory over Australia in the T20 world cup, in South Africa last year?
A.F It was great to watch! They thoroughly deserved it. And it brought back memories of my own David and Goliath moments with Zimbabwe cricket.
G.C What is it that you tell your team when the going gets tough?
A.F To hang tougher ourselves. It is enjoyable to test yourselves in such times, as it is in those situations that one’s true character is revealed.
G.C What do you enjoy doing off the pitch?
A.F I do stuff with the kids.
G.C When was the last time you were in Zimbabwe? How often do you visit?
A.F I have not been back since I left in 2003. I want to visit as soon as possible. I am Zimbabwean.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News