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Mandla Ncube, Sports Reporter
DECEMBER 2019 was definitely Munashe Mashoko’s finest moment in a hockey umpiring career which started five years ago.
Elevated to the International Umpiring Panel, the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Mashoko’s (25) stock in the hockey arena has risen to extraordinary levels both locally and internationally.
The rise has been an interesting one for a man whose hockey dream back in high school was dashed by being over aged, umpiring was then an avenue that could keep his love for the game at least alive.
Mashoko’s umpiring journey then took a turn one night in Zambia, rekindling his playing dream while playing for Hippo Hockey Club in the Africa Club Champions. On the eve of the tournament, a Zimbabwean umpire was required and his then captain and a good friend of his convinced him to take up the officiating role putting an end to whatever playing dreams he had gone with to Zambia.
“I was umpiring with no intention to become an international umpire because I wanted to play for my national team and go on to play varsity hockey in South Africa or another country,” recalls Mashoko.
Despite the turn of events in Zambia, for Mashoko it proved to be a case of a door closing and another one opening, the championships in Zambia became a birthplace for Mashoko’s umpiring career which he now fully embraces.
With his playing dream all but now a distant memory, Mashoko’s dedication and hard work as an umpire has not gone unnoticed by the FIH. He has earned his stripes in a short space of time and last month saw him being accorded his FIH badge, a badge that promotes him to the International Umpiring Panel, an achievement that only does not put him on the limelight but Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole.
The pain he felt in Zambia has all of a sudden been replaced by a degree of pride, a feeling Mashoko acknowledges left him speechless upon learning about his promotion.
“I was speechless when I was told that I was getting my promotion. I can’t explain the feeling, it was a special moment. When it was confirmed I was happy that I had achieved one of my goals,” he said.
On this road, Mashoko has not been all alone, instead he has relied on the mentorship and support from other people behind the scenes.
Notably in that corner of mentors is renowned FIH umpire Sarah Bennett who has been credited with nurturing and shaping Mashoko into an umpire he is today.
While Mashoko may still be trying to wrap his head around his promotion and doing some reflection on his journey, his achievement is welcome news for Zimbabwe’s hockey. He has not only pleased himself but the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe too.
“We as HAZ are extremely proud of his commitment and determination to achieve this level and it goes to show how this can be accomplished, we have supported him on this road and it is great for Zimbabwe’s hockey to have another umpire that is internationally qualified and recognised,” said HAZ president Grant Campbell.
How Mashoko’s story will keep unfolding is not easy to actually predict, for now the very few chapters written about it has provided those following enough twists to keep them glued to witness what the next twist is.
@MaroezayMvp
Online Reporter