Sundaymail Editor
Youth Buzz
Rudo Mandiro
MARCH 22, 2018 will forever be remembered by many local cricket fans.
On that fateful day, the Zimbabwe senior national cricket team, the Chevrons, raised the nation’s hopes and only one thing — the United Arab Emirates — stood between them and a ticket to the World Cup in England.
All they needed was a win, but this was not to be. It was indeed a dark day for cricket fans.
But every dark cloud has a silver lining.
For Tapiwa and Tineyi Chisikarambwa — twins from Goromonzi — a fire had been lit.
Today, the twins, who are aged 20, are proud founders of Goromonzi Sharks Cricket Academy (formerly Chisi Sharks Cricket Academy), which is spearheading the elite sport in Goromonzi.
“Our passion for cricket started from when we were still kids; I think in Grade Six, at Sinoia Primary School. But we did not really have dreams of playing or pursuing cricket professionally at the time,” said Tapiwa.
“That all changed in 2018, when Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. It really broke our hearts. As young kids, we really wanted to watch Zimbabwe playing at the World Cup in England. We then started playing cricket so that one day, we would take Zimbabwe to the cricket World Cup. Ever since, we talk, eat, drink, think and dream cricket.”
To share their passion for the sport, Goromonzi Sharks Cricket Academy was born, with the twins serving as coaches.
Currently, the academy has over 40 players.
The two also attend training sessions at Takashinga Cricket Club. Whatever new information they get is shared with the budding cricketers. Their parents, including other well-wishers, have chipped in with funding and also assist with managing the academy.
Like most parents, the patriarch of the Chisikarambwa family, Ngoni, had reservations about his sons focusing on sport.
He wanted them to excel in school.
“Like any parent, we really wanted our two boys to pursue some tertiary training of their own choice, but to our surprise, they dropped a bombshell on us,” he said.
“They just wanted to play cricket full-time and be professionals. Finally, we gave in after some consultation.
“They then started to train on their own, jogging long distances and doing other exercises to get the right body shape and fitness.
“They eat, talk, sleep and dream cricket. They started attending cricket sessions at Takashinga in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic disturbed their training sessions.
“My boys continued attending the training sessions until May this year, when they formed the Goromonzi Sharks Cricket Academy from scratch.”
Ngoni is part of a committee that volunteers to run the academy, chipping in with funds for the team’s travels, food, uniforms and other expenses. Their current cricket training ground is a football pitch at a sports club near the Goromonzi Police Station. Because they play a mentorship role, Tapiwa and Tineyi have aspirations of spreading the game further and nurturing the next big Chevrons superstar.
“We also wish to spread the game of cricket to other communities in the district and remote areas of the country,” added Tapiwa.
“We attend international cricket games together with members of our academy to ensure they get more exposure.”
Online Reporter