Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Cricket legends, who hung their boots many years ago with celebrated international careers continue to give back to the game that shaped them to become global icons.
Having worn national colours with pride during their playing days, they never abandoned the game they dearly love and have found ways of giving back, often through coaching and nurturing the next generation of stars.
The likes of Christopher Mpofu — who last played international cricket in 2020 — have ventured into coaching.
The “Magwegwe Express” as he is popularly known, is the Tuskers assistant coach and is an inspiration to many upcoming cricketers in and around Bulawayo. Mpofu also had various developmental stints in Bulawayo while also doubling as player-coach for Queens Sports Club.
Former teammate, Elton Chigumbura has also forged a path in coaching.
The former Chevrons all-rounder runs the Elton Chigumbura Cricket Academy and is also the head coach of the Zimbabwe men’s Under-19 national team.
While the likes of Mpofu and Chigumbura have ventured into coaching alongside many other Chevrons greats, some have had their sons take up the game, creating interesting stories that capture the cricket faithfuls, not just in Zimbabwe but the world over.
In the current Chevrons set-up, Johnathan Campbell has followed in his father’s footsteps, Alastair, a celebrated Chevrons legend.
The 27-year-old Johnathan Campbell made his international debut against Bangladesh in May 2024, scoring 45 off 24 balls, the highest score by a Zimbabwe batter on a men’s T20I debut. In February this year, he was named Chevrons Test captain on debut, becoming only the second captain to lead his team on Test debut this century (other than captains in a team’s inaugural Test).
Receiving his Test cap from his father at Queens Sports Club, Johnathan and Alastair became the fourth father-son duo to captain in Test cricket.
His younger brother, Matthew Campbell has also been making waves in the domestic scene where he has played eight First-Class matches, scoring 577 runs at an average of 41.21.
As the Campbell brothers look to carry on their father’s legacy, another pair of promising brothers — sons of a Zimbabwean legend — have also emerged, Kian and Michael Blignaut, twin brothers of former Chevrons all-rounder, Andy Blignaut.
The two talents are part of the Chigumbura-mentored Zimbabwe Under-19 team that is playing against Ireland in a five-match Youth One Day International (YODI) series in Harare.
The twins look set to continue with the Blignaut legacy in international cricket and have both announced themselves in style in Young Chevrons colours.
Zimbabwe Under-19s are leading the five-match series 4-0 with the final game taking place today.
In the second match of the series, Kian was named player of the match after scoring a brilliant 68 runs off 98 balls which helped Zimbabwe register a 12-runs victory with Kupakwashe Muradzi also making a half-century, falling for 52 runs.
Following his brother’s heroics in the second match, Michael also showed what he can do as he took one wicket for 35 runs in eight overs as Zimbabwe restricted Ireland to 241/6 before going on to produce a stellar batting show, scoring an unbeaten 60 runs off 58 balls to guide the hosts to a six-wicket win in the fourth game on Thursday.
His innings consisted of seven fours and one six, complementing player of the match, Leeroy Chiwaula’s 77 runs off 99 deliveries.
Speaking after the match, Michael said he is proud to have scored winning runs for Zimbabwe. He said their father is proud of them and is looking to follow in his footsteps of being an all-rounder.
“It feels good to score a half-century for Zimbabwe, especially my first one. I am sure many more will come. Finishing the game for your team gives you such pride, you can’t honestly explain it. I am chuffed for everyone.
“My dad is very proud of me and my brother. His shoes are big to fill but I think we can both get there and do the job. I was so proud of him (Kian, when he scored his half-century). He also did very well, he won us the game. There is always a competition between us two but competition is good, we just keep working,” he said.
As the series concludes today, Michael said they have set their eyes on completing a white-wash, which will be a big boost as they prepare for next year’s Under-19 World Cup which will be hosted on home soil.
“Five-nil will be excellent for our team. Even though we have done really well, we want to finish with a high and it will give us such confidence going to the World Cup. I am trying to be an all-rounder like my dad, I will keep on working on the bowling and hopefully pick up wickets in the future,” he said. @brandon-marlvin
