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Mehluli Sibanda, Sports Editor
LOGAN Cup matches which were meant to get underway yesterday in Harare will now start today after Zimbabwe Cricket decided to delay the fixtures in honour of the late coach, Shepherd Makunura.
A four times in a row Logan Cup winner, Makunura died at a private hospital in the capital last Thursday at the age of 46 after a lengthy illness.
Makunura, winner of the Logan Cup with Mountaineers three times and once with Southern Rocks was laid to rest at Warren Hills in Harare yesterday.
After the announcement of his burial date on Friday, ZC took the decision to delay by 24 hours the Logan Cup fixtures originally penciled in to start yesterday in order to allow players, officials and other cricket stakeholders to attend the funeral.
“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has delayed the Logan Cup matches due to start this Saturday by one day following the confirmation of the funeral arrangements for the late Shepherd Makunura,’’ said ZC in a statement.
Late Shepherd Makunura
At the time of his death, Makunura was doubling up as fielding coach with the Zimbabwe senior men’s national team and head coach at provincial side Southern Rocks.
The change in starting date means the four-day matches pitting Southern Rocks against Mega Market Mountaineers at Harare Sports Club and Tuskers versus Eagles at Old Hararians Sports Club are now only getting underway this morning.
Before the start of the two matches, teams will observe a moment of silence while the players and officials will also wear black armbands as a sign of respect for the late Makunura.
The departed coach was the husband of Sinikiwe Mpofu, the Zimbabwe national women’s team coach assistant coach and the couple had two children. — Follow on Twitter @Mdawini_29
Bongani Ndlovu