Basketball starlet fulfils family’s Region 5 Games dream

Tadious Manyepo in LILONGWE, Malawi

TEAM Zimbabwe have enjoyed incredible support from the stands.

Zimbabweans based in Malawi have been coming in their numbers to back their compatriots at the on-going African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games here.

The numbers have been noticeably big during basketball and netball matches at the newly-built and immaculate Griffins Complex which is a stone’s throw away from the modern Bingu National Stadium.

While the Under-20 netball team, the Young Gems, are enjoying a purple campaign, the basketball teams haven’t really stepped up to the plate.

But, there have been notable positives from both the girls and boys teams who missed last year’s edition in Maseru, Lesotho, due to Covid-19 protocol complications.

That means, effectively, both these Under-16 teams haven’t played basketball in the past two years.

Ordinarily, they should be lacking the very basics of the game like pass selection and even proper handling.

But, they have all the techniques in them and have been making their opponents, including powerhouses Angola and Mozambique, sweat for their narrow victories.

And the boys team has actually unearthed a gem in 15-year-old Shaun Chideme who has caught the imagination of both admirers and critics of the Tapuwa Mungunyana charges.

And his mother Emilias Chideme (nee Mandimutsira) has been his Number One cheerleader.

She is not confined to basketball as she has been there for Team Zimbabwe from Day One.

Whether her son is playing or not, it’s basketball, volleyball or netball, it hasn’t mattered for the Harare entrepreneur.

She followed the team to Malawi along with her daughter Ruvimbo, a national Under-19 hockey player, for the love of the badge.

Ruvimbo was part of the Zimbabwe Under-19 hockey team that played in South Africa in July and Emilias was also there, supporting the team.

And she has been one of the most outstanding and colourful supporters in these Games, thanks to her son, Shaun, who has fulfilled the family’s dream.

“Shaun is a multi-talented athlete. He is a national Under-17 rugby player, he can play volleyball as well but since I was a basketball player myself, I always wanted him to play the hoops,” Emilias said.

“I always wanted him to make it into the national team and play at these prestigious African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games.

“I am extremely happy he managed to do just that and already there are inquiries from some international scouts.

“I have decided to be here for him and, of course, for Team Zimbabwe. We are a sports family and his father also wanted to be here but he then decided to stay behind since our medical equipment business should keep running.”

So talented is Shaun not just in sport but academically too, he had to go straight to Form 1 from Grade 6.

Shaun wrote a Form 1 entrance test while he was still a Grade 6 learner at The Grange Primary School, skipped Grade 7 and he enrolled for Form 1 at Gateway School where his sporting talent was further developed. He has since transferred to St John’s College where he plays basketball, rugby and volleyball.

“I feel indebted to my parents who always see to it that they support me in all the endeavours that I pursue in my sporting and academic life,” said Shaun.

“I don’t think I will ever be able to pay back the sacrifice. You can see my mother is here supporting me and the team in good and bad times. I can tell you that I didn’t know that she was coming together with my sister (Ruvimbo).

“I was surprised to see them in the stands on Saturday when we played our first game against Mozambique.

“I receive good lucky messages from all my family members (including the first born Mitchell) every day and you know what that means. It makes me push even harder and I hope as a team we will be able to do well in our remaining games.”

Shaun’s father, Nyikadzino, said his son has always been a sports-person but never thought he would play at an international level at the age of just 15.

“I am very pleased that Shaun is pursuing his passion for basketball. I am happy that he is doing well at the regional tournament in Malawi and I see it as a reward for the effort and passion he puts into the sport,” said Nyikadzino.

“Above all we thank God for the talent in him and the exposure he has been getting at St John’s College and at the Under-16 basketball national team.

“It’s a dream for all of us to see him playing at this level at such a young age. We hope and pray that injuries spare him and he will be able to fulfil his dream of playing in the NBA in the United States.”