WATCH: Heath Streak, a man of the people

THE tributes pouring in for the late Zimbabwe Cricket legend Heath Streak are testimony to the man he was on and off the field.
Streak succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 49 on Sunday morning and condolence messages have been pouring in from all parts of the world and that is something that has humbled Denis Streak, Heath’s father.

Despite travelling all over the world through cricket, Streak never forgot his roots, where it all started at his family farm.
Streak was also fortunate enough to don Zimbabwean colours in more than just one discipline. He was proud of who he was and never forgot his background.

“He’s got his home here on the farm, he loved the farm, he loved the bush, so it’s a sad loss to all of us. We continue to receive messages from all over the world and so far we have received over a thousand messages from people all over the world and this is unbelievable. I think it’s a reflection of the impact that he has made on all the people that he met.

“He loved company, he was a real joker, he loved to tell stories and he was very comical and that’s what we loved about him and all his group of friends. Of late, he took up fishing, in the last three years he was into fishing, so much so that it was only about a month or so ago when he was still ill that he got his Zimbabwe Fishing colours as well as his green blazer for Zimbabwe in fishing. He was very proud to be one of the few who got rugby colours, cricket colours and fishing colours for Zimbabwe.

“He was a very proud Zimbabwean, a very proud Matabele and a very proud member of our community and district and we all mourn his loss, it’s sad but he is in a better place now, he was in pain suffering from cancer,” said Denis.

The journey into sport for Streak began at a young age where he played a lot of cricket and rugby. He represented the Sables at Under-19 level as a fullback but chose cricket, which he loved, as his career.

He also played football with the community in Inyathi.

Not only was he gifted in sport but was equally excellent academically.

Growing up on a farm with other kids, Streak learnt to speak Ndebele at just five years old and was very fluent in the language.
His father added that he spoke Ndebele probably better than other Ndebeles.

His sister, Leane is also another fluent speaker of Ndebele.
Streak was also an avid fan of all sports, something which was a major part of his life growing up.

Some of the notable names that he grew up with include Trevor Madondo, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart, Henry Olonga and Mpumelelo Mbangwa.
Community members from around his home in Inyathi expressed deep sorrow at the loss of Streak they described as a loving and caring person from a young age. Gloag High School headmaster Gamuledi Ncube said it was a huge loss to the area as Streak was an important part of the community.

The two became friends in 2008. “We became close and each time we had problems as a school we would approach them and speak to his father or Heath himself and they would assist us. He was always so supportive of the school and it’s so heart rending to hear that he has passed on. He also wanted to help us open a cricket club but unfortunately, we couldn’t,” said Ncube.

Streak had earned himself a name with the locals, calling him “Mgibisi” after his grandfather.
“I knew Heath ‘Mgibisi’ very well, he was a good and welcoming man. He loved his football and would come to my house to take my husband for football matches. He was kind and we all loved him and we are pained that he is no more,” said Bhejiwe Sibanda.

Legendary footballer Madinda Ndlovu said the world had lost a great sportsman in Heath.
“I got to know him in the 1980s while he was still at school. He spoke good Ndebele and was quite sociable and liked football. He was very close to Willard Khumalo. In 2009 he gave us his place to camp as a club and even went out of his way to kill a wildebeest for us. It is from that camp that Ariel Sibanda went on to be Highlanders’ number one goalkeeper to the legend he is. The world has lost a great sportsman at a young age before he could enjoy his retirement from sport,” said Madinda.

Streak’s cricket ability was always apparent as a pace bowler who could bat, and after only one first-class match he was selected for Zimbabwe’s tour of England in 1993 and then played his first Test matches in Pakistan later that year at the age of 19.

He was a hero of Zimbabwe’s first-ever Test match victory over Pakistan at Harare Sports Club in the 1994/95 season, taking nine wickets in the match. He will always be remembered as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest cricketers and his funeral arrangements are yet to be announced but a memorial service will be held in Bulawayo on Friday. – @brandon_malvin.