dyton mupawaenda
Tinashe Kusema
THE marriage between Mbare Bulls and their American basketball import, Zion Fortune, seems odd at face value.
However, upon closer inspection, it could very well turn out to be the perfect match.
Fortune, a Chicago native, is taking his first steps into professional basketball after a brief stint in the minors back in the United States.
Mbare Bulls, on the other hand, have been trying to find their feet in the terrains of the Harare Basketball Association’s (HBA) ultra-competitive Super Six League.
After a rough start to the 2023-2024 season, the Bulls sent out a beacon and, oddly enough, Fortune answered the call.
“So far, in terms of my professional basketball career, this is actually my rookie year,” said Fortune.
“I haven’t played in any professional club teams, but did spent some time in the minors playing in the Unified Basketball Alliance, back in the United States.
“How it (the move) came about is that my agency got wind that there was a demand for players here and since this is my first professional team, I wanted to use this opportunity to get my front into the door and hopefully help the team (Bulls) win.”
Picking Mbare Bulls turned out to be a no-brainer for the power forward.
“I was ready to go anywhere, I didn’t care where so long I got some much-needed exposure and experience,” the 24-year-old went on.
“My decision to pick Mbare Bulls turned out to be a no-brainer as I heard they were looking for scorers, and I thought that would be a great fit for me as it allows me to play my game more comfortably.”
As a Chicago native himself, it also helped that the Zimbabwe team had the word in the name.
Fortune was born, raised and educated in Chicago, the very same city one of his idols the legendary Michael Jordan and his team Chicago Bulls hail from.
The Mbare Bulls forward actually lists Jordan, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as his idols, and the reasoning behind it could spell doom for the rest of the HBA Super Six league teams.
“Yeah, James, Jordan and Giannis are my basketball idols, and the players I model my game on,” he said. “They are very dominant, carry themselves well on and off the court and have made the game look so much fun to watch.
“That is how I play or try to play, as I love scoring and give my all in every match.”
Fortune has already endeared himself to the local basketball fraternity, both with his skills and his infectious personality.
He has starred in a number of Mbare Bulls wins, with his most recent spellbinding performance coming in his teams’ 64-57 win over Leopard Academy last weekend.
During that game, Fortune finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, one of his many double-double performances this season.
The locals have showered the American with love, and in turn, the 24-year-old Fortune is slowly, but surely falling in love with the country.
“Before coming here, I did not know much about the country, but I am loving my stay here,” he said.
“I definitely like the food here, it’s more organic as compared to what we eat in the US.
“The weather is a lot better, sunny and warmer than the windy conditions we are used to back in Chicago.
“The biggest culture show, however, has been how much cheaper the cost of living is here.
“I remember going into one shoe store and seeing Jordan’s (shoes) going for something like US$25 or US$30.
“In the US, that same pair of shoes costs something like US$300 and above. I plan to see more of the country, travel a lot more and learn as much about the country’s history, culture and languages.”
As it pertains to his plans, Fortune hopes to stay as long as possible in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter