adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
SIX Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise players who spent the off-season attached to European clubs, are expected in Bulawayo tomorrow to begin their preparations for the 2015-16 domestic season.
The Logan Cup champions began their preparations a fortnight ago without captain Godwill Mamhiyo, veteran Keith Dabengwa, Nkosana Mpofu, Steve Chimhamhiwa and Mupariwa brothers Tawanda and Tafara who were playing cricket in the United Kingdom.
Tuskers coach Wayne James is looking forward to the return of the six players who were key figures in Tuskers’ Logan Cup glory.
“It’s exciting to have the guys coming back and we’re looking forward to them sharing their experience with other players.
“I spoke to them and they should start arriving on Tuesday in batches but I think they should all be in by the end of the week,” said James.
Mamhiyo, 22, who led Tuskers to their fourth Logan Cup since the start of franchise cricket in 2009, has been turning out for Cookham Dean Cricket Club since last April. Former Tuskers coach Dave Houghton recommended Mamhiyo to the British club in 2013 and since then, the latter has been going there whenever the domestic season is off season.
Seamer Tawanda, 29, who was part of the Zimbabwe senior national team that played at the ICC World Cup in New Zealand and Australia is at Strabane, in Northern Ireland while Dabengwa is in Scotland.
Dabengwa first signed for Scottish side Ferguslie in the 2013 season and after a successful season helping them win the CricHQ40 Cup, he returned in the summer of 2014.
He scored over 700 league runs including a high score of 184 against Greenock. He also helped Ferguslie win the WDCU CSL First Division title.
Dabengwa returned to Ferguslie in April with overseas amateur Fritz de Beer of Free State, South Africa.
Tuskers have been training without most of their key players who include pace bowler Christopher Mpofu, John Nyumbu, Luke Jongwe, Brian Vitori, wicketkeeper Richmund Mutumbami and Sean Williams who are with the national teams.
Jongwe and Mutumbami are in South Africa participating at the Africa Cup while the other national team players are at a training camp in Harare.
“Because of a busy international schedule we’ve been made to train with a disjointed side which makes it a bit of a challenge in terms of understanding each other.
“However, on a positive note, the fact that all these guys have been busy with the national teams and oversees attachments is a blessing in disguise for us because it means that they are physically fit,” said James.
The Zimbabwe Cricket is expected to release its domestic calendar today with indications that action will start next month.
Online Reporter