malvernmugadzikwa
Tinashe Kusema
VITALIS CHIKOKO spent the better part of the last few days going through congratulatory messages in his phone, practicing and travelling for games.
The 33-year-old Zimbabwe basketball national team captain is the toast of the city of Dijon in France after helping orchestrate the first piece of silverware for his team, Jeanne d’Arc Dijon, in four years and fifth overall.
The team, named after Joan of Arc, has two French Federation Cup titles (1993 and 2006), a French League Cup (2020) and a French Supercup title (2006).
Dijon last weekend managed to capture the elusive Coup de France, beating Strasbourg 83-70 in the final.
Chikoko finished with a game-high 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and was duly crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
“It was an ecstatic moment,” he said. “I am, however, more excited that we got the championship and the MVP was just a bonus. What l was also thrilled about was the fact that this was history in the making for me as this was my second title and back-to-back MVP crown.
“I, Vitalis Chikoko; the long skinny boy from Glen View, now blazing the trail!”
The MVP crown was indeed historic as the France-based centre also won the same title last year, albeit with another club.
When he won the crown, Chikoko was playing for Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez, but the club has since been relegated to the unfancied French ProB League.
The club, based in the French capital, still holds a special place in the Zimbabwe captain’s heart after having played for them twice (2016-2019 and 2021-2023), and, as such, he views both MVP crowns in equal regard.
“They both hold equal value, and have a special place in my heart,” he said. “The first one, l view it as the ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ crown, then the second one is a confirmation that the first one was not a fluke.
“They are both a testament to the hard work l have put in over the years and the great support l have around me.”
Chikoko has barely had a moment’s peace since the awards, as friends, family members and fans have been phoning to congratulate him.
A couple of rival teams have even had their say too, and he has been forced to balance all this with practice, game days and his time with his family.
“Oh yes, the messages have been coming through, and I feel so blessed to have such great support,” he said. “I still haven’t finished all the messages because I am always on the road with back-to-back games and practice.
“In France, l received messages from fans of rival teams and a few of the clubs that l played for before. Dijon last won this trophy 18 years ago, so you can imagine the fans’ excitement.”
The job is not done yet as Dijon still have a season to complete and more titles on the horizon to compete for.
Dijon are 13th in the French ProA League with 14 wins and 18 losses.
Since their Coup de France conquest, they have since beaten Cholet 88-79 and were due to travel to the French capital for a clash against Nanterre.
Chikoko’s next target is to go for the French league and European titles.
That, Chikoko says, would give his career the validation he so craves.
“I have had many targets and goals during my basketball career and, unfortunately, a couple of them have already fallen off sideways,” he said. “The good thing, so far, is that l managed to tick one big one off the bucket list and that is the Coupe de France title.
“Right now, l am just looking forward to finishing the season strong and see where that takes me. In the long term, l want to win the LNB championship or any of the European championships. That way, when l retire, l will be able to say that l came, l saw and l conquered.”
Online Reporter