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Fungai Muderere
ZIMBABWE cricket and Tuskers’ spin bowler John Nyumbu says he could have played professional football but as fate would have it, he is now a household name in the gentlemen’s game.
“During my days at Milton High School, I used to stay in Suburbs, a development which greatly hindered me to pursue club football. I had a passion football but for me, Suburbs was far away from places like Barbourfields Stadium and AmaZulu Sports Club where my schoolmates and agemates pursued club football. Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) was closer to my place and as such that is where I went for school and club cricket practice. I also went for football practice sessions at school,” said Nyumbu.
He temporarily dumped the white cricket trousers, bat, bails, stumps and spiked shoes for football shorts and boots when he did duty for Milton High School football first team together with dreadlocked Warriors defender Costa Nhamoinesu (2004) and with ex-Highlanders player Nhlanhla “Mooki” Dube and former AmaZulu starlet Musa Soma Phiri (2003) among other big names.
There was also a time when Nyumbu turned out for the now defunct Nguboyenja Division Two side Rangers which also provided home to ex-Bantu Rovers and CAPS United midfielder Kevin “Scopo” Sibanda.
“I still have a soft spot for football. In 2016, I was part of Las Palmas Division Three side which was promoted to Division Two in the same year. I’m using football as a model to stay fit,” said Nyumbu who enjoys playing the world’s most beautiful game as a linkman.
Interestingly, he is a close associate to FC Platinum vice-captain, Kelvin Madzongwe, a nimble-footed player who has successfully carved his name in the heart of Pure Platinum Play engine room while playing as a linkman.
Just like any other sports personality, Nyumbu is using the Covid-19 lockdown to bond with his family, while his brother Gary, a former cricketer, has discovered a “hidden” farming passion.
Cricket programmes were halted in March when all sporting activities were indefinitely suspended as part of stringent measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Nyumbu, who spent six months playing cricket in the United Kingdom in the build-up to the domestic 2019/ 20 season, said he had been enjoying quality time with his family.
“I grew up with my grandmother and each morning after my prayer session I eat porridge with peanut butter. This is a must to start my day,” said Nyumbu.
The national team spinner has been doing exercises, sprinting 30 metres in his yard to stay in shape.
Because of available space in his yard, Nyumbu also conducts coaching lessons for his sons Raphael and Ryan. They also play football to “kill” time.
“I just finished reading Sir Alex Ferguson’s biography. I’ve been doing this in between my programmes. I have also been nagging my wife in the kitchen, asking for food because I love eating. This lockdown has made me appreciate a number of things about life. The nature of my profession (cricket) takes away a lot of quality family time because we spend most of the season playing in Harare. Recently I was in the UK where I spent six months, so family time has been scarce. This lockdown has unlocked family time for me,” he said.
He urged people to adhere to all lockdown rules, stay indoors as much
as possible, be as hygienic as possible and use this time to bond with their families.
His elder brother Gary said he had started market gardening, which he would maintain even after the lockdown.
He has planted spinach, tsunga, tomatoes, onions and green beans.
“I’m doing watering and cultivation, preparing land for more crops I want to plant. Thanks to the lockdown, I have managed to take up market gardening and make it a business. Since I am chairman of Bulawayo Business Opportunities, we encourage people of Bulawayo to take up these opportunities and learn from us,” said Gary.
When relaxing, Gary compiles playlists for his clients, who know him as DJ Uncle G.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu