Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S cricket legends, once giants of the game in their own right, are scripting a powerful second chapter, not with bat and ball this time, but through the next generation they are nurturing, mentoring and, in some cases, raising.
Having worn the national colours with honour during their prime, the icons of yesteryear are refusing to turn the final page on their cricketing journey.
Today, they remain tethered to the sport they cherish, shaping futures, building legacies and rekindling dreams.
Few embody this devotion more vividly than Christopher Mpofu, the fast bowler affectionately known as “The Magwegwe Express”.
Since bidding farewell to international cricket in 2020, Mpofu has traded in thunderous run-ups for tactical chalkboards, taking up the assistant coach role with Tuskers.
But his passion spills far beyond elite-level coaching.
He continues to work hands-on with the youth in Bulawayo, while also performing the dual role of player-coach at Queens Sports Club, a testament to his deep-rooted love for grassroots cricket.
Alongside him in the coaching trenches is Elton Chigumbura, the former Chevrons all-rounder whose commitment to the game now lives through two avenues — the Elton Chigumbura Cricket Academy and his position as head coach of the Zimbabwe Under-19 men’s team.
Both platforms allow him to mould young talents, much like he once was — raw, hungry and dreaming.
But for others, the baton has quite literally been passed down within the family.
At the heart of Zimbabwe’s current Chevrons squad is a storyline that reads like a cricket fairytale — Johnathan Campbell, son of the revered Alastair Campbell, is not just following in his father’s footsteps.
He is charging down the same track at full steam.
Johnathan, 27, made an electric international debut in May 2024, smashing 45 runs off 24 balls against Bangladesh, the highest score by a Zimbabwean on a men’s T20I debut.
But his rise did not end there.
In February this year, he was entrusted with the Test captaincy on debut, a rare feat matched only once this century outside inaugural Tests.
And in a moment steeped in cricketing lore, it was Alastair himself who handed Johnathan his Test cap at Queens Sports Club.
That singular gesture marked the Campbells as only the fourth father-son duo to captain in Test cricket history.
Now, another Campbell, the third, is carving his own path.
Matthew Campbell, Johnathan’s younger brother, has impressed on the domestic scene with 577 runs in eight First-Class matches, averaging a solid 41.21.
While the Campbells script history at senior level, another famous surname is being resurrected on the youth stage.
Kian and Michael Blignaut, twin sons of the explosive former all-rounder Andy Blignaut, are writing a new chapter in Zimbabwe’s Under-19 cricket annals, under the watchful eye of coach Chigumbura.
Representing Zimbabwe in a five-match Youth One-Day International (YODI) series against Ireland in Harare, the twins have dazzled with both bat and ball.
The Young Chevrons lead the series 4-0, with the final encounter set for today.
In the second match, Kian showcased poise and precision, scoring 68 runs off 98 balls to guide Zimbabwe to a 12-run victory, a performance that earned him the Player of the Match honour.
His innings was crucial, as was a composed 52 from Kupakwashe Muradzi.
Inspired by his twin’s performance, Michael Blignaut responded with his own match-winning effort in the fourth fixture.
After taking 1/35 in eight overs, he returned with the bat to deliver an unbeaten 60 off 58 balls, decorated with seven boundaries and a six, sealing a six-wicket win.
His innings complemented Leeroy Chiwaula’s 77 off 99 deliveries, as the duo steered Zimbabwe to a clinical finish.
Reflecting on his performance, Michael spoke with both humility and quiet confidence.
“It feels good to score a half century for Zimbabwe, especially my first one,” he said. “Finishing the game for your team gives you such pride, you can’t honestly explain it. I am chuffed for everyone.”
The twins, it seems, draw strength from each other and from the example their father set.
“My dad is very proud of me and my brother. It’s big shoes to fill, but I think we can both get there and do the job. I was so proud of Kian when he scored his half-century, he won us the game. There is always a competition between us two, but it’s good competition. We just keep working,” said Michael.
With the series finale today, Michael has already turned his eyes to a bigger goal — a 5-0 whitewash, and next year’s Under-19 World Cup, set to be hosted on Zimbabwean soil.
“Five-nil will be excellent for our team. Even though we have done really well, we want to finish on a high. It’ll give us confidence heading into the World Cup. I’m trying to be an all-rounder like my dad. I’ll keep working on my bowling and hopefully pick up wickets in the future,” he said.
As Zimbabwe prepares for another generation to take the field, what is clear is that the legends of yesterday are not just memories, they are mentors, fathers, coaches and guiding lights.
From the sidelines to the academy nets and Test debut caps handed from father to son, Zimbabwean cricket’s past is not behind it; it is propelling it forward.
