admin
Raymond Jaravaza
IF one stands in the corridors of the Bulawayo Magistrates Court at Tredgold Building and shouts the name Dumisani Mankunzini, most magistrates and prosecutors will instantly remember the name as the man has had brushes with the law many times.
The ex-cricketer says he is not proud of the man he had become as numerous cases of alleged fraud against him have been heard by magistrates in the last few years. Although he has not been convicted for any of the cases, Mankunzini is not lost to the fact that his reputation in the eyes of the public is not admirable.
To redeem his life, Mankunzini turned to the one thing that he loves the most and is talented at — cricket.
Last September he joined Amakhosi Cricket Club, a Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association (BMCA) First League team — as an assistant coach to Thabo Mboyi.
“Cricket is the one thing that I love and that I’m good at so I’m now putting all my energy in my new role as an assistant coach at Amakhosi Cricket Club. I joined the club last year and the journey has been amazing, working with a talented squad like the one at Amakhosi is a great honour,” said Mankunzini.
The all-conquering Amakhosi Cricket Club sits at the apex of the BMCA First League. The team has amassed 54 points, 18 clear of their closest rivals Queens Sports Club who are on 36 points. The side boasts national team players Ainsley Ndlovu and Brian Chari as well as Tuskers players Adrian Mupembe, Arnold Shara, Ashley Phiri and Bright Phiri. Two Zimbabwe Under-19 players Nkosi Gogodo and Shaun Dzakatira also play for Amakhosi.
“I know that people will judge me because of my past and I have no control over what they say, even when they call me names. I can, however, control the direction that my future will take. For now, I’m putting all my energy into cricket and will leave the past in the past,” he said.
The former Tuskers player says he will forever be grateful to Tuskers chief executive officer Nick Singo, a man he considers a father figure in his life.
“Few people know that Mr and Mrs Singo took me into their house in Hwange for about three years from 2007. He is one person who won’t mince his words when I do wrong and he was not happy with the lifestyle that I have been living and told me to my face to get my life in order.
“Mr Singo gave me the opportunity to get back into cricket and I’m grateful for that. Lovemore Banda has also been very helpful in my whole cricket career together with the Zimbabwe Cricket general manager Mr Makoni (Givemore),” he added.
It’s often said that it takes a real man to acknowledge his flaws and start the journey to redemption.
Mankunzini takes his life lessons as examples when dealing with cricketers going through difficulties in their personal lives.
“Cricketers are also humans who go through personal problems and I always tell the Amakhosi players to face their problems head-on and look forward to a brighter tomorrow. I’m a coach in the cricket field and a brother off the field so I try to balance the two roles so that we get the best out of the players. I think as the Amakhosi coaching team, we are onto something good and I would like to see more of our players in the national team in the future.”
Online Reporter