ZRP duo impresses at Heroes darts championships

The championships also saw legendary David Nyemba of Mashonaland West continuing with his dominance in the sport winning one single and three team events before capping a fine championships’ performance with the most 180 match plays, 13 in total. Bulawayo’s Nkululeko Ncube, who plays for Highlanders in the local league, had the highest close of 160 while Bulawayo as a province came third in team events.

In the Presidential Open Singles, Moses Ndlovu and Patrick Zimidzi, both of Bulawayo, came second and third respectively behind winner Timothy Chibwe of Midlands.

However it is the star performance by the duo of Makadho and Magwai that saw Bulawayo getting gold after a very long time in national competitions and in the process relegating Midlands to second and third positions .

Midlands’ duo of Stasio Mpingiza and John Banda came second while colleagues Alison Dale and Fundai Hama settled for bronze.

After struggling in the semifinals of the National Closed Singles against Bulawayo’s Brian Ndlovu before turning on the heat to win the semifinals, Nyemba was in no mood for favours in the final against Harare’s Tobias Mavima who was left with no option but to settle for silver.

It had to be a family affair in the National Open Pairs when Nyemba and his son, Kudzi partnered to relegate Manuel Murambiwa and Learnard Macho, also of Mashonaland West, and Austin Chingagwe and  Ngonidzashe Nyamagodo of Harare to second and third place respectively.

Meanwhile, host province Matabeleland South was heavily criticized for shoddy preparations.

Dart boards were erected late and players complained that food was too expensive.

Responding to complaints, National Darts Association of Zimbabwe president, Mennard Moyo encouraged provinces who would have won the bid to host future competitions to thoroughly prepare and also seek guidance from the national executive.

“In as far as sponsorship for future competitions are concerned, I am in talks with the relevant offices at Delta Beverages and one can only hope that these talks will bear fruit,” said the man who has transformed the face of darts in the country.