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From Charles Manyuchi’s capture of the World Boxing Council silver welterweight title, the Davis Cup team’s freefall to the Warriors qualification for the Afcon finals for the first time in 10 years – 2016 was pregnant with both the highs and lows in sports.As we welcome the New Year our sports reporters Langton Nyakwenda and Ishemunyoro Chingwere look at the previous year’s sporting highlights.
Chicken Inn beats Mamelodi Sundowns
Caf Champions League debutants Chicken Inn beat eventual champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 courtesy of a Michelle Katsvairo strike in a preliminary round first leg match played at Barbourfields on February 13. However, Khama Billiat’s Masandawana overturned the deficit with a 2-0 victory in Pretoria as they went on to capture the title.
Mubaiwa stabbed again
Former Highlanders chairman Peter Dube was elected Premier Soccer League chairman after he polled 11 votes against Dynamos president Keni Mubaiwa’s 4 on March 5.
Mighty Warriors qualify for AFWCON
In April, the Mighty Warriors qualified for the 2016 AFWCON finals after beating bogey neighbours Zambia 4-2 on aggregate in the final qualifying stage.
Makepekepe break DeMbare jinx
Caps United beat Dynamos for the first time in seven years in a league match on May 1 at Rufaro courtesy of a Dominic Chungwa solitary strike.
Manyuchi makes history
On May 6, at the DIVS Arena in Yekaterinburg Russia and in front of over 20 000 supporters, Charles Manyuchi captured the prestigious World Boxing Council silver welterweight title after defeating Russian champion Dmitry Mikhaylenko on points.
Housemaid with muscle
Regina Jonga, 38-year-old South Africa based house maid and reigning Ms Zimbabwe, placed a remarkable sixth at the prestigious Arnold Classic Africa bodybuilding competition held in Sandton, South Africa in May.
Bosso break 10-year jinx
Rookie forward Prince Dube scored one and set up another as Highlanders beat Dynamos 2-0 at Rufaro on May 28 to register their first league win over DeMbare in 10 years.
No more Whatmore
On May 31, Zimbabwe Cricket fired national team coach Dav Whatmore and stripped Hamilton Masakadza of the ODI captaincy.
Zim shock India
Nineteen days after Whatmore’s departure Zimbabwe sailed to a historic two-run T20 win over cricket giants India at Harare Sports Club with bowler Neville Madziva the star of the show.
Nafaz is almost born
On June 4, Zifa councilors voted to dissolve the association and immediately formed the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz). Nafaz was later nullified by the Sports and Recreation Commission.
Warriors end decade long wait
The following day, the Warriors qualified for the 2017 Afcon finals with a game to spare after they demolished Malawi 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium while Guinea failed to beat Swaziland in the other Group L encounter.
Sad chapter for DeMbare family
Seven Dynamos fans perished in an accident on their way to Gweru where DeMbare later beat Chapungu 2-1 on June 11. Two more died later.
Fifa stand by Chiyangwa
On his 210th day in office, Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa received crucial backing from Fifa on July 2, as various figures among them Chris Sambo and Francis Zimunya tussled for control of the football mother body. “For the time being Fifa recognises Zifa and Mr. Chiyangwa,” Fifa wrote.
Young Gems delight
The Zimbabwe netball Under-20 team made history when they qualified for the 2017 World Youth Cup after securing second place at the African region World Cup qualifiers held in Botswana last July.
Chitembwe’s bombshell
On July 9, Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe hinted at quitting amid growing pressure from some Makepekepe fans who believed he was not good enough for the club. Caps United had drawn 0-0 against FC Platinum at Mandava. “There comes a point where you think the good you are doing is not good enough for others,” Chitembwe told The Sunday Mail.
Davis Cup pain
The Zimbabwe Davis Cup team was relegated to the unfashionable Africa Zone Group III after falling 2-3 to Georgia in a relegation play-off in Tiblisi during the weekend of July 15-17.
Bom Dia Rio!
The Mighty Warriors played their first ever match at the Rio 2016 Olympics on August 3 but fell 1-6 against two-time world champions Germany at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.
Crisis at Caps
Caps United president Farai Jere threatened to quit the club on August 13 after the players staged a crippling industrial action that saw the team leave for Hwange the night before their Colliery assignment.
Musona’s betting nightmare
In news that rocked the country at the end of September, Warriors talismanic forward Knowledge Musona was named among players alleged to be placing bets in the Belgian League.
Manyuchi’s homecoming show
Charles Manyuchi fought at home for the first time as a WBC silver welterweight champion on October 14and knocked out Jose Feria of Colombia after only 2 minutes 42 seconds in a non title bout held at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Ngezi gulps it all
Ngezi Platinum Stars lifted the Chibuku Super Cup in their debut Premiership season after shocking FC Platinum 3-1 at the Baobab on November 5.
Eleven year wait is over
Caps United were crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions on a wet afternoon of November 26 at Ascot in Gweru after a 1-0 victory over Chapungu earned them an unassailable lead over second placed FC Platinum.
Hardlife makes it easy
Makepekepe star right back Hardlife Zvirekwi was named 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Star of the Year at a glittering banquet held in Harare on December 2.
Captain Fiasco, Captain Cosafa
Phillip Chiyangwa was elected, unopposed, as Cosafa president on 17 December.
Online Reporter