Football’s uncelebrated hero keeps grinding
ALFRED Tavavarirwa is one man who has made an impact on local football with a career spanning more than 23 years.
He has been a blessing to the people of Kariba where he was the first coach to champion junior football development.
He is the unsung hero considering his contributions to the growth and development of football in Kariba and the country at large.
All top football talents that have been churned out of Kariba came through his hands.
Some of the players who passed through his golden hands include Daniel Chakupe, Trevor Chikede, Nigel Tinarwo, Manfred Gwaruka, Keith Mavhunga, Bonface Zubheri, Shepherd Gadzikwa, Denny Siyabeza, Hamilton Makainganwa, Darren Mutimuzunze, and Leslie Kashitugu.
Tavavarirwa, a CAF C holder, is a primary school teacher and now is currently working with the Kariba Football Academy.
“Since I came to Kariba, I took the onus of developing football at the grassroots level.
“It was a new thing in the community and I am proud to say I was one of the first people to come up with such an initiative that saw several players passing through my hands into the topflight league with some crossing borders to ply their trade abroad.
“I have been passionate about football since day one.
“I was also a football player but remained in the lower leagues as I was meant to follow the academic way but even at Seke Teachers College, I was in the team.”
He added:
“As a school teacher, I established many teams along the way and, in the year 2000, that’s when I started working with young players in Kariba.
“It’s been an intriguing challenge but we have persevered through it.
“We have so many challenges here with the biggest challenge being transport and all training kits. We look forward to all those who can come and assist as we see it as a big sacrifice to our community.
“We have to invest for the development of our youths.”
AFTER missing the ship to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, Zimbabwe and Ireland appear to agree it is now time to reset their systems as they begin their white ball rivalry under floodlights at Harare Sports Club this evening.
The Chevrons, who will be playing in their first series after also failing to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in disastrous fashion recently in Namibia, have made changes to their team in the hope of turning around their fortunes ahead of the first T20I today. The match begins at 6pm.
Ireland are in Zimbabwe for three T20Is and as many One Day Internationals.
Both teams were not part of the jamboree during the ICC Cricket World Cup held in India recently and would want to forget the disappointment as quickly as possible as they look to reposition themselves for the future.
“Certainly for us, I think it’s a fresh start and I think, first and foremost, it was disappointing that we weren’t there but to be honest I think we have gotten over it,” Ireland captain Paul Stirling told journalists yesterday.
“It’s been quite a long time; since we have been in Zimbabwe for the qualifiers. We didn’t have the best time. So, I think in both formats, it’s a bit of a new start and for our players it’s sort of a building phase for us.
“We are going to go to the T20 World Cup in the not so distant future in the USA and the Caribbean and that’s probably the start of our process in T20,” said Stirling.
Unlike the Irish, Zimbabwe will not be going to any World Cup any time soon and the recent debacle in the T20 World Cup qualifiers has dealt a huge dent on the nation’s confidence in the team.
Veteran batter Craig Ervine, who stood in for skipper Sikandar Raza at yesterday’s press conference, said the series against Ireland could not have come at a better time as they seek to make amends.
“Ireland are obviously a good side,” he said. “They bring a lot of energy, a lot of unity and I think a lot of our guys will be really happy to be back in familiar conditions back home; playing in front of our home crowd. So I think everybody is looking forward to the series.”
Skipper Sikandar Raza, who has been playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 in the past few days, is expected home in time for the games.
LEGENDARY coach Sunday Chidzambwa lost his mobile phone yesterday while conducting a special training session for three brothers who are all still in school.
The former Dynamos and Warriors coach was conducting the session in Harare when the cheeky thief struck and went away with the gaffer’s mobile phone.
Interestingly, the thief pretended to be watching the training session and even tried to engage in a conversation with Chidzambwa.
“I was in the middle of the training session when I felt that the phone, which was in my pocket, was disrupting some of the demonstrations I was making to help the players,” he told H-Metro.
“I decided to put the phone beside my bag which contained other things which I was using for the session.
“That’s when I saw this guy and he appeared to be interested in watching the session and also engaging in a conversation with me.
“Then, just like that, he was gone and little did I know that he had also taken my phone with him.
“It’s such an inconvenience but that is the world that we live in.
“I have replaced the sim card and I will replace my phone soon.”*