Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Cricket great Christopher Mpofu has described his new chapter in coaching as a “massive privilege and an honour” as he steps into the international arena with the Armenian national team. The veteran fast bowler was recently appointed as Armenia’s national team bowling coach for their upcoming fixtures, supporting a country committed to climbing the ranks of international cricket.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, Mpofu, who represented Zimbabwe in all three formats and ranks among the nation’s top wicket-takers, expressed immense pride in the recognition he has received for his international career. He now looks forward to helping Armenia in their pursuit of cricketing success. For Mpofu, the role presents a vital opportunity to grow as a coach, and he remains eager to continue learning and improving.
“It’s a great privilege and an honour for me, its recognition when someone comes out and says we want you to help out. It might not be the biggest team in the world but they are a country that is developing cricket so for me getting that opportunity is a great honour.
“It shows that there are people who believe in me and what I have done in international cricket. It will be good to be with them, so that one day when they qualify for World Cups you say, yes I was there to help out when their cricket started. It’s an honour to tell the truth, but not only that, I am also learning something on my coaching journey,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu clarified that his contract with Armenia is not full-time. He will be called upon to assist as bowling coach whenever the national side has matches or tours, while continuing his current role with Zimbabwe Cricket as Manager and Assistant Coach at Tuskers.
“It’s not a full time contract that I signed with them, it’s a situation whereby whenever they have tours, they will ask me to come and help out. So I am a bowling mentor for those moments, like what I have been doing going to India to play the Legends matches. I am still attached with my nation Zimbabwe, I am still manager/coach at Tuskers. Whenever that opportunity arises for Armenia to play a game I will be there to help them out,” he said.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Mpofu is also set to play in the inaugural Armenia Cricket League (ACL) T20 tournament, scheduled for 1–10 March 2026. He said he is looking forward to not only sharing his knowledge but also leading by example on the field, demonstrating his capabilities through performance.
“I am also looking forward to playing the Armenia T20. You don’t want to be talking about it, you also want to show at the same time what you are capable of. Sharing my knowledge and leading by example is something that I am looking forward to,” said Mpofu.
The 39-year-old boasts an illustrious playing career for Zimbabwe, with over 100 caps across all formats and more than 150 international wickets, making him the country’s 11th all-time leading wicket-taker. His record includes 15 Test matches with 29 wickets, 84 ODIs with 93 wickets, and 32 T20Is with 33 wickets. In domestic cricket, he has played 111 First-Class matches with 296 wickets, 194 List A games with 252 wickets, and 89 T20s with 94 wickets.
The Armenian Cricket Association released a statement expressing their excitement at Mpofu’s appointment, highlighting the wealth of experience and expertise he brings to the team.
“Christopher brings a wealth of experience and expertise from his illustrious career, and we are incredibly excited for him to share his knowledge with our players. This is a monumental step forward for Armenian cricket, and we can’t wait to see the impact of his guidance on our team’s performance. Welcome to Armenia, Christopher. Let’s make history,” read the statement. @brandon_malvin
