Chingoka stages his teams return

Chingoka last week appointed one of the former national teams star-batsman, Grant Flower, as the Zimbabwe batting coach. When he returns in September, Flower will join bowling mentor Heath Streak, recently appointed head coach, former Australian international, Allan Butcher, and assistant coach, Stephen Mangongo.

Chingoka believes that this technical line up will turn the teams fortunes around and make it possible to rejoin test cricket.

I believe this is possible, the young players certainly have talent; but they strongly need the assistance from these experienced former players.

Streak endorsed this: We have a lot of combined experience at international level. I hope in the course of next year we can help these guys technically.

Chingoka has always denied that he was against the white players, and has been quoted in recent years as saying: All are welcome back to assist in cricket development in the team.

I dont want to dwell much on the past, but there were whites who felt that with that exercise (racial integration), their whole world was being taken away. We could have been stronger if they (the former white players) had stayed, because the young players had to find their own way without mentors. As you can see the teams do not have all black players, the Under-19 captain and national selector are white; the best players will certainly play regardless of race, he said.

Asked about the exodus in 2005, Streak was reluctant to say much.

The whole situation was regrettable, I have got pride in my country and I want to be part of the solution, said Streak. There is great ability and talent. We need to start turning it into success at international level to show the world that we are serious. The future of Zimbabwe Cricket is important and we need the return to test cricket.

During Chingokas childhood, cricket in Zimbabwe was largely the preserve for whites and the black elite. Because of a privileged background that earned him education at multiracial private schools, Hartmann House and St George’s College, Chingoka found his way with the bat on the crease.

He became the first black Zimbabwean to make his name in cricket. His major highlight in his cricket career was when he was appointed as captain of the South African African XI that played in the Gillette Cup knockout competition in 1975-76 and 1976-77.

The majority of black Zimbabweans could not afford the equipment to play cricket, nor did they have exposure to the game at their group B schools. This automatically sidelined them from the sport in colonial and post independent Zimbabwe.

Chingoka sort to rectify it, and in the process, he has faced criticism that he chose not to worry much about.

I have not looked so much into what people say. When you are a conductor to an orchestra you have to give your back to the crowd. I am stronger than that, if that is the punishment one gets from wanting cricket to be a multi-racial sport then I will take it, declared Chingoka.