adminMidlands Correspondent
MIDLANDS and Mashonaland West cricket franchise side Midwest Rhinos’ players have started trickling back home ahead of the 2015/16 cricket season set to begin on November 4.
Most of the Midwest Rhinos’ players failed to secure central contracts with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and went to play club cricket in the United Kingdom.
Some of the players that have returned to prepare for the new season are Bothwell Chapungu and Nyasha Mayavo, while the trio of Mark Mbofana, Prince Masvaure and Tendai Chitoro is expected home next week.
Midwest Rhinos area manager Admire Marodza said they would start preparations as soon as all their players jet in.
“At the moment, our players that were playing club cricket in the UK are coming back home and once the bulk of of them return, we can then start to prepare for the new season,” said Marodza.
“With the guidance of ZC, we will also see who to include in our foreign quota of players as we seek to build a strong side. I’m confident that this season we will have a competitive side that will win us some silverware, which has eluded us for a long time,” he said.
Despite boasting some of the top players and experienced coaches in franchise cricket since its inception in 2010, Midwest Rhinos have failed to win any silverware.
The Kwekwe-based franchise has had players such as former national team skipper Brendan Taylor, Edward Rainsford, Vusi Sibanda and Richard Muzhange turning out for the side. England’s top order batsman Gary Ballance and the duo of Rikki Wessels and Malcolm Waller have also donned the red and black Rhinos’ strip.
Seasoned coaches such as Australia bowling legend Jason Gillespie and former Chevrons batting coach Grant Flower have failed to inspire the side to any silverware.
The side is now under the mentorship of Douglas Hondo, who also doubles up as the senior national team’s bowling coach.
Online Reporter