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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
“Genius is the gold in the mine, talent is the miner that works and brings it out,” wrote the late Irish novelist, journalist, and literary hostess Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington.
As alluded in the previous editions, the list is very long and could not be exhausted at one go, thus we take a look at other greats who made sure their names will forever be remembered.
Perpetua Siyachitema
A name many netball followers will remember. Siyachitema captained Zimbabwe to their first ever World Cup appearance in 2019 when the Gems finished in position eight. Retiring after the global showpiece in 2019 to pursue her coaching career, Siyachitema had served Zimbabwe for 15 years having made her debut at the age of 19. She took over the reins as skipper in 2011.
Ernie Noble
A basketball veteran who also served as Bulawayo Basketball Association’s (BBA) president from 2019-2021. Ernie Noble, who was a member of one of the country’s greatest ever basketball clubs, Perking Stars was part of the generation that ruled the courts in the decade between 1985 and 1995. He is a true legend who has given his best to top-flight basketball since 1978.
Arigoma Chiponda
Arigoma Mayero Chiponda, a former Zimbabwean boxer. He competed in the men’s middleweight event at the 1984 Summer Olympics. At the 1984 games, he lost against Tom Corr of Ireland.
Colin Ray Williams
The late Williams, who was known as “Porge” is a hockey legend who represented Zimbabwe as a player and coach. Playing for Bulawayo Athletic Club for over 20 years, Williams went on to win the Rothmans Shield, the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Cup, an unprecedented 11 consecutive National Hockey League titles, and the Silver Medal at the Africa Cup of Club Championships in 1999, making BAC the most successful men’s hockey club in Zimbabwe. Porge is one of only three players to have won 11 consecutive National League Titles and the HAZ Cup.
Wayne Black
The son of former player Don Black, Wayne turned professional tennis player in 1994 and reached his highest singles ranking of 69 on 30 March 1998. Alongside his brother, Byron the pair formed the mainstay of the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team for over a decade. Before retiring from the sport in 2005, he won two men’s doubles Grand Slam titles at the 2001 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open with fellow countryman Kevin Ullyett, as well as two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles at the 2002 French Open and 2004 Wimbledon with sister, Cara Black.
Sunday Chidzambwa
Nicknamed “Mhofu”, Chidzambwa, a former defender, is a five-time league winner with football giants, Dynamos during his playing days. He also played for the Zimbabwe national team, the Warriors before going on to coach the side at the 2004 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and in 2007. Chidzambwa also had coaching stints with his former club, Dynamos and also South of the Limpopo River where he took charge of Umtata Bucks and Free State Stars.
Nick Price
Born in Durban, South Africa, Nick Price is a retired Zimbabwean professional golfer who won three major championships in his career, the PGA Championship twice in 1992 and 1994 and The Open Championship in 1994. He won his first tournament outside South Africa in 1980 at the Swiss Open. In 2003, Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Ray Price
Nephew to Nick, Ray Price is considered as Zimbabwe’s most impressive spinner since Paul Strang. He played 22 Tests, 102 ODIs and 16 T20Is for the Chevrons taking 80, 100 and 13 wickets respectively. In 2009, he picked up 44 wickets in the 50 overs format at 20.61 and ascended to second in the ICC one-day bowling rankings. Some of his best performances came in 2003 in the tour of Australia where he took 6–121 in the second Test at Sydney. Against the West Indies back home in the same year Price ran through their strong batting line-up twice, taking 6–73 and 4–88 in the first Test at Harare and then again in Bulawayo, taking 5–119 and 4–36. He played a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s series win over Bangladesh that winter too, taking 8 wickets in two Tests.
Samson Muripo
Samson Muripo is a two-time World Karate Championships and in 2009 he became the first black African World Champion in Osaka, Japan.
He was also named Zimbabwe’s Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) Sportsperson of the years 2009 and 2017 and Sportsman of the year 2009, 2013 and 2017. Muripo has over 20 international achievements under his name. — @brandon_malvin.
Online Reporter