The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
SEVEN players from different schools in Manicaland are part of the Mountaineers Under-17 team that will represent the franchise in the inaugural national Under-17 Interprovincial tournament organised by Zimbabwe Cricket.
The national junior cricket event is scheduled to take place from April 8 to 13 in Harare.
Tadiwanashe Matsikenyiri (St Dominic’s), Nyasha Makwerere (St Dominic’s), Tinotenda Masiyamhanye (Mutare Boys’ High), Wisdom Kamusasa (Hillcrest), Jordan Black (Hillcrest) and non-travelling reserves, Kundai Chingwinyiso (St Dominic’s) and Tryan Dzaida (Hillcrest), make up the list of the seven.
Mountaineers High Performance Centre’s head coach, Square Square said the selection of the seven from Manicaland is testimony to the hard work being put into talent development in the region.
“I am thrilled to share with you some remarkable achievements made by the Mountaineers High Performance Centre recently. On March 23, a total of 28 talented cricketers participated in the Mountaineers Under-17 cricket trials at Peterhouse College in Marondera.
“Following a rigorous selection process, a squad of 14 exceptional cricketers was selected to represent Mountaineers in the national Under-17 Interprovincial Tournament, organised by Zimbabwe Cricket in Harare. This prestigious event is scheduled to take place from April 8 to 13.
“Notably, seven players from the selected squad hail from Manicaland Province, a testament to the region’s consistent production of high-quality cricketing talent,” said Square.
Square emphasised that Manicaland’s contribution reaffirms the promising future of Mountaineers Cricket.
“These achievements underscore the dedication and talent nurtured at Mountaineers High Performance Centre, promising an exciting future for cricket in our region. Let us rally behind our young athletes as they prepare to showcase their skills on the national stage,” said Square.
Meanwhile, a golden era could be beckoning for Zimbabwe after the country dominated the women’s and men’s cricket categories at the African Games in Accra.
First, Zimbabwe Women beat every team they faced, including South Africa in the finals, to win the gold medal at the continental multi-sport event last week.
The Zimbabwe Emerging Men’s side that Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) sent to the tournament followed suit by crushing all their opponents all the way to the finals in which they thrashed Namibia to complete the golden double in cricket for the country.
These achievements point to a bright future for the sport in Zimbabwe, according to ZC chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani.
“The performances and results at the African Games have been exceptional and we could not be prouder of the way our young men’s and women’s teams represented our country.
“This is a massive achievement and all this gives me a reason to believe we are on the cusp of something special. Our women have dominated Africa for some time, and looking at the way they have progressed, I believe it will not be long before they become a force to reckon with at the highest level of the game.
“If you consider that we sent an emerging men’s side, made up of players aged 25 and below to the African Games, I have no doubt that all those starlets will be at their prime soon and ready to shine on the global stage.
“All of this — the bold performances, great results and gold medals — speak to the fact that if you invest in the game, you will reap incredible benefits.
“Our work is cut out but we are committed to putting in the necessary hours and resources to ensure the golden era that is beckoning becomes a reality,” he said.
Mountaineers Under 17 Squad:
Tadiwanashe Matsikenyiri (St Dominic’s); Nyasha Makwerere (St Dominic’s); Tinotenda Masiyamhanye (Mutare Boys’ High); Wisdom Kamusasa (Hillcrest); Jordan Black (Hillcrest); Marshall Mashava (Wise Owl); Ryan Moyo (Peterhouse); Pharel Makunura (Wise Owl); Simbarashe Mudzengerere (Wise Owl); Barnabas Kabachi (Wise Owl); Tatenda Chimugoro (Wise Owl); Isheanopa Mutungi (Peterhouse); Othaniel Makuzo (Wise Owl) and Nicholas Orphanides (Peterhouse).
Non-travelling reserves:
Kundai Chingwinyiso (St Dominic’s) and Tryan Dzaida (Hillcrest).
