Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TAKASHINGA Sports Club came alive early last Friday, buzzing with quiet urgency as final preparations gathered pace ahead of the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.
Groundsmen moved briskly across the outfield, trimming grass and fixing small details, while officials led by Zimbabwe Cricket managing director, Givemore Makoni, walked the venue, checking and rechecking.
Even the security guards felt different, alert and questioning every person who tried to enter the hallowed ground tucked inside the heartbeat of Highfields.
At the centre of it all stood one of the suburb’s own.
Elton Chigumbura watched closely as Zimbabwe’s Under 19 side went through one of their final net sessions before the global show begins this week.
Dressed in black shorts, a red Chevrons jersey and dark shades, Chigumbura barked instructions at his bowlers, smiling often, but never drifting far from focus.
After the demanding session, the Zimbabwe Under 19 coach settled down for an interview, confidence written all over his face.
“Playing World Cup at home is something that I will probably cherish for the rest of my life, and we are all looking forward to it,” said Chigumbura.
“I think it’s going to be an exciting World Cup for me and the boys and we are ready.
“We are going to try and take it game by game and make sure that we look after our processes, play our natural game and keep to our brand of cricket that we have been training for the last couple of months.”
Takashinga Sports Club will host all of Zimbabwe’s group matches, starting with Scotland on Thursday. England follow on January 18, before a final group clash against Pakistan four days later, all on the same familiar turf.
It is a venue that carries deep meaning for Chigumbura, who began his cricket journey at Takashinga, right in the heart of Highfields.
Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu remain revered figures in the suburb, a status earned through their exploits at the ground and their performances at past ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup editions.
That history has come full circle, with Masakadza now tournament director, Taibu serving as ambassador and Chigumbura leading Zimbabwe’s latest generation, this time from the technical area.
“It has been quite overwhelming being here again, preparing for a World Cup assignment,” said Chigumbura.
“You know, this is where I grew up, where I played most of my cricket.
“Now, playing the World Cup here at home is huge; it is a big advantage for the boys and we are going to make full use of it.
“Playing cricket at this venue carries more weight, especially when you look at the guys who have passed through here and gone on to represent our country.
“I think it’s a good example and we now have to make sure that the players know that they carry that legacy. Hopefully, playing this World Cup at this venue is going to inspire lots of people.”
Reflecting on being reunited with Masakadza and Taibu, Chigumbura smiled.
“It was also good to see Tiba (Taibu) after a while,” he said. “We played together from a younger age and represented our national team together, so it’s always a proud moment to have guys that you grew up with, you know, doing different roles.
“These guys are playing a massive role in terms of building our brand of cricket, building the structures of Zimbabwe cricket. Having them be part of an ICC event, it shows a lot of weight.”
Attention now turns firmly to the task ahead.
Zimbabwe face a demanding group that includes England and pre tournament favourites Pakistan, two nations with deep traditions of producing elite talent.
Pakistan have already underlined their strength, dismantling both India and Zimbabwe in the Asia Cup and Youth One Day International Tri Series finals.
Scotland, meanwhile, arrive as dangerous outsiders and will not be taken lightly.
Chigumbura remains unfazed.
“At the Under 19 level, every team is almost at the same level,” he said. “We are not going to pay too much attention to the opposition, but rather concentrate on our processes and our game plan.
“The things we can control.
“We are, however, going to adjust the plan according to which team we are playing and come up with a plan that we feel will dominate.
“I think the main focus is on us, our brand of cricket and what we want to do. The results will take care of themselves. I am confident enough that we will beat teams. We will shock the world.”
