Sports

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 02380 879675
General: 07714736382
P O Box 248, Hythe, SO45 4WX, United Kingdom


Masomere selects Olympic squad
JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe Under-23 Coach, Luke “Vahombe” Masomere is set to announce his 18-member squad for the 2008 Olympic Games scheduled for China, CAJ News established.

Masomere told CAJ News this week that he assessed quite a number of genuine under-23 players so that he prepares them ahead of the 2008 games.
“I will be announcing my squad shortly this week. I have a list of the young players whom I feel would represent the country quite well. I am not going to accept a situation where over-aged players are co-opted into my squad. I need to qualify for the games with the right players,” said Masomere.

The Masvingo United head coach said he was happy with the support he was getting from the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and promised to do his level best to uplift the nation’s standard of football at the forthcoming Olympic Games in China.

“I have travelled around the country to identify talent, and I am pleased to say the right youngsters have been found,” he said.

Masomere, is rated as one of the best coaches in Zimbabwe after taking AmaZulu Football Club to their first ever premiership title in 2003, guiding Dynamos to three cup titles and Masdvingo United to four trophies respectively, a record the national team coach, Charles Mhlauri is yet to achieve. - CAJ News


Bosso to bolster squad

HARARE - Premier Soccer League giants, Highlanders, have gone on the market in a bid to buy at least four quality players to replace their stars who are set to join different South African clubs in July.Highlanders, who have been in devastating form this season, seem resigned to losing inform midfielders, Honour Gombami and Vusa Nyoni and goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.
The three have been solidly behind Highlanders’ lighting start to the season in which they won 10 matches in a row and lost just once.

Both Highlanders chairman Ernest Sibanda and coach Methembe Ndlovu have pointed out publicly that they will have to use the cheque book to strengthen their team.

A top Highlanders official, said Bosso had actually started persuading a number of players to join them.“We are busy in the market searching for players. What we have done is that the coach has identified a list of players he wants and if we get three of them we will be fine. So far we are happy with what we have done because a number of players are interested. What is left is for us to agree transfer fees with the clubs and also sort out personal terms with the players concerned,” said the official, without revealing names.

But ZimOnline understands that Highlanders are after Hwange midfielder, Carrington Gomba, Chapungu’s Phillip Marufu, Dynamos’ Evans Gwekwerere, CAPS United goalkeeper, Tsungi Mudzamiri and Monomotapa striker, Heavens Chinyama among a list of 10.

Sibanda, the Highlanders chairman has reportedly told his coaching staff that he has the resources for them to acquire any player in the country. Highlanders are after the championship, which has been won by CAPS over the past two seasons. - ZimOnline

Hick joins elite band
BY JOHN HUGHES LONDON -
Graeme Hick, the 40-year-old Zimbabwe legend, has joined an elite band of batsmen who have scored 100 first-class centuries for one English county. He became the eighth cricketer and only the second since World War 2 to achieve the feat when he scored 139 in Worcestershire's home Championship victory over Northants.

The other seven are Jack Hobbs (Surrey), Phil Mead (Hampshire), Walter Hammond (Gloucestershire), Patsy Hendren (Middlesex) and the Yorkshire trio of Herbert Sutcliffe, Frank Woolley and Geoff Boycott.

Harare-born Hick, now in his 23rd season with Worcestershire, launched a marathon top-class career with Zimbabwe in 1983--he represented his homeland for three seasons--and went on to play for England in 65 Tests and 120 one-day internationals. He totals just on 50,000 runs in all cricket.

Two other Zimbabwe stars have bounced back to run-scoring form. Murray Goodwin hit 235 in Sussex's demolition of Yorkshire at picturesque Arundel, while Andy Flower top-scored for Essex with 84 in an eight-wicket win at Derby. Dale Benkenstein played a key all-round role in Durham's surprise defeat of Hampshire at Southampton. The former South Africa limited-overs international from Harare was highest scorer with 61 in Durham's second innings, then took 3-16 as Hampshire collapsed from 71-1 to 104 all out.

Another top Zimbabwean, Sean Ervine, is out of Hampshire's Twenty20 Cup campaign that started this week. The all-rounder is troubled by the left knee, which was operated on at the end of last season. Michael Vaughan, the Yorkshire and England captain, has a similar problem and is back on the sidelines after scoring just 14 and 4 against Sussex and being unable to field.
Lancashire and Sussex will clash in the final of the C&G Trophy at Lord's on August 26.


Yohane quits Wits
JOHANNESBURG - Warriors defender-cum-linkman, Charles Yohane quits Wits University Football Club on Friday to join FC-AK, after guiding the university team back to the premiership.

In an interview with CAJ News, Yohane said his contract expired on 30 June, 2006.
“FC-AK, formerly Mabophane Football Club made me an offer I cannot resist,” he said.
FC-AK plays in division one of the Mvela Golden League.

“With FC-AK, I am happy and I have no complaints. I am leaving Wits FC a happy man because I guided them back to the premiership,” said Yohane.

The Wits Captain said he was hoping to guide FC-AK to the premiership next season.
Other Zimbabweans players in the South African premiership league include Peter Ndlovu, Zvenyika Makones, Edelbert Dinha, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Esrom Nyandoro, Edzayi Kasinauyo, Wilfreewd Mugeyi, William Mugeyi, Innocent Chikoya, Tinashe Nengomashe, Eddie Mashiri and Dumisani Mpofu. - CAJ News


TZ youths shine in Malawi
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Tennis (TZ) youths performed impressively in both the Under-13 boys and girls circuit tournament in Malawi over the weekend.

According to Tanya Chinamo, the Tennis Zimbabwe Press Liaison Officer, the boys and girls did well to lift the country’s flag high.

“Amanda won the first two tournaments beating Valerie Bhunu in the final on both occasions. The boys managed to reach the final of both tournaments in the singles and doubles. Tendai Tapfuma reached the semi finals of the singles in the first tournament and the second round in the second tourney. Matingo reached the quarter finals of the first tournament and the second round of the second tourney,” said Chinamo. - CAJ News