Mangongo, cricketer in bust-up

Mangongo confirmed to The Herald yesterday that in the heat of the moment, he pushed Mushangwe and ordered the player out of the dressing room.

The coach said he was angry that Mushangwe had disobeyed team orders, to deliver a message to Hamilton Masakadza who was batting, and instead chose to go and have a meal.

Mangongo said he regretted the incident and, on reflection, acknowledges that he should have reacted better given his responsibility as coach of the team.

“I was angry with him and I pushed him and asked the team manager to order him out of the dressing room and he went back to the hotel,” said Mangongo.

“I then got a call from his mother who said Natsai had told her there had been some problems and I told her that I had not been amused by what he had done because he had let the whole team down.

“I told her I would be coming to Harare to discuss the issue personally with her and on Monday, in the afternoon, I met her, in the presence of Natsai, and we dealt with the issue to the satisfaction of both sides.

“I have groomed Natsai since his days at Takashinga and I cannot go out to inflict harm on him now when he has finally made it to the national team. I regret the incident that happened and I have gone out of the way to address it with the family.”

Mangongo said claims that he assaulted Mushangwe were outrageous.
“You can talk to his mother and I have even contacted her that she gets in touch with you and she says she isn’t interested in seeing this issue going on and on,” said Mangongo.

Mushangwe apparently appears to have decided to bury the hatchet as he has not given Zimbabwe Cricket authorities a written report of the incident, a basis on which the board could launch investigations.

The 22-year-old right arm leg spinner, who also toured the Caribbean with the Zimbabwe cricket team, irked Mangongo when he ignored his orders to deliver a message, between the overs, to teammate Masakadza.

Mushangwe said he had, instead, passed the responsibility to Shingi Masakadza to deliver the message.
Zimbabwe won the match by six runs.

ZC Managing Director Wilfred Mukondiwa said they heard of an incident that happened in Bulawayo and had requested the parties involved to submit their reports.

“We have requested reports and upon receipt of those reports we will look at the matter in terms of our grievance and disciplinary code,” said Mukondiwa, who said the ZC was firm when it comes with dealing with such issues.

Mangongo made history as the first black coach to take charge of Zimbabwe in a Test match when he guided the country to a comprehensive victory in the first Test against Bangladesh before the Tigers fought back to win the second Test and level the series.