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Peter Phiri Sports Correspondent
TUSKERS Cricket Franchise leg spinner and former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Dumisani Mankunzini has retired from professional cricket.
Mankunzini announced his retirement during a press briefing at Baines Primary School in North End yesterday. The 23-year-old Mankunzini sustained a back injury in 2005 and has been battling to recover ever since.
He described his retirement as unpleasant and a sad day for him, his family, friends and cricket hopefuls who were looking up to him as an inspiration.
‘‘Today is an unpleasant day to me, my family and all cricket hopefuls who were looking up to me as a mentor because it is with sadness that I am officially announcing my retirement from professional cricket,’’ he said.
Mankunzini who started his cricket career at Nkulumane Primary School said despite his love for playing the game which has been close to his heart, his back injury was bothering him.
‘‘I have persisted hoping that I will recover from my permanent back injury but to no avail. It is due to this back injury that I feel I cannot continue in professional cricket any more,’’ he said.
Although his playing career is over, Mankunzini is directing his energy towards the Dumisani Mankunzini Cricket Initiative (DMCI) which seeks to develop cricket from grassroots level.
‘‘But my care for the game of cricket will be witnessed in my efforts at grassroots level and striving to give the underprivileged kids especially in rural areas and Western Suburbs the platform to showcase their talents and hopefully excel at national team level,’’ said Mankunzini.
He said his late mother Musa Sibanda Mankunzini has been his biggest inspiration and will continue to execute his cricket mission as a coach.
‘‘My late mother Musa Sibanda Mnkunzini has been my inspiration and I hope to honour her by continuing as a coach imparting my knowledge to aspiring cricketers. It is my belief that you can execute your mission as a coach, player or manager for the passion not because of monetary reasons. The most important thing is the feeling that I have for the game,’’ he said.
Mankunzini described the three day match against Southern Rocks of Masvingo during the 2010 season as his major cricket highlight when he played a blinder of a game.
‘‘The three-day match series against the Southern Rocks in 2010 still remains my most memorable one as I gave an all round performance when I destroyed the opposition,’’ said Mankunzini.
On the international scene he rates Australian legend Shane Warne as his role model and locally Keith Dabengwa of Tuskers.
Meanwhile, the Musa Sibanda Mankunzini Memorial Cricket Tournament takes place today at Baines Primary School with eight clubs battling for honours.
Some of schools that will take part are Nkulumane, Milton Junior, Khumalo, SOS, Gampu and Mpumelelo Primary School.
Online Reporter