NewsHawks 5 August 2022

NewsHawks People & Places Page 51

Issue 92, 5 August 2022

Zimbabwean pilot Precious Sibalo.

TRAILBLAZING Precious Sibalok Trailblazing pilot gives back years old. During a school trip to
who overcame great social and per- to her Plumtree community Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Interna-
sonal adversities to become a pilot come societal barriers and challeng- the opportunity to move to Dubai, A320 MCC course, but she has a big- tional Airport in Bulawayo, she be-
and fly around the world – a far-cry ing stereotypes to successfully secure United Arab Emirates, where she ger dream: she aspires to fly for Qa- came intrigued while viewing aircraft
from her Plumtree home district a coveted role in aviation. worked as a waitress. An opportu- tar Airways or any reputable aviation arrive and depart the runway.
backwater – this week gave back to nity availed itself while she was now company.
her community that brought her up. Born in Plumtree, Sibalo encoun- in Dubai. So she went for interviews She says: “I was watching the pi-
tered turbulence before she was even for Qatar Airways, got the job and In all this, Sibalo has not forgotten lots as they came in and noticed how
She went back to her school in able to take off from the runway. Af- worked for five years as cabin crew where she comes from. She has be- they looked in their uniform. I was
Plumtree and donated a lot of items: ter becoming a mother at the age of member. come a well-known philanthropist in really inspired. But then something
50 pair of shoes for school children; 17, her dream to go to university col- her community and initiated various caught my eye. I could not see any
food for 590 pupils; books, satchels, lapsed around her. At that point she realised the sky relief initiatives during the Covid-19 female pilots. When going back to
and sanitary pads for all girls in Grade was the limit. She believed even more pandemic where she supported mul- class, I asked my teacher if it was pos-
6-7. The only way out for her, like for that she could fly. tiple families and individuals in need. sible to become a pilot as a girl. She
millions of fellow Zimbabweans, was This week, she made a huge donation told me ‘You most definitely can be a
By so doing, Sibalo led by example join the Great Trek to South Africa Sibalo started studying while at her former school. pilot as a girl’ and from that day on, I
and became a good daughter of Zim- where she became a waitress and a working. Today she holds an Inte- resolved that I would be a pilot, even
babwe and Plumtree, a responsible part-time model. grated Airline Transport Pilot Licence Sibalo was first introduced to the against all odds.
citizen, which many lucky enough to (IATPL) and completed an Airbus aviation industry when she was eight
be in her position have dismally failed While working in there, she seized “I could already see that it was
to do. male dominated, but I knew that I
wanted to be one of the few women
Yet her journey to the cockpit has in aviation.”
no means been an easy feat – it was a
mountain to climb. She had to over- – Staff Writer/Aerotime Hub.

Page 52 Sport NewsHawks

Issue 92, 5 August 2022

Only just – Crocker wins his first European
tournament under immense pressure

SEAN Crocker, the Zimbabwean 25-year-
old professional golfer, was celebrating last
Sunday after winning the "Hero" spon-
sored tournament at the Fairmont Club, St
Andrews Bay, Scotland and in expectation
of a US$320 000 cheque.

He recorded under intensity a score of
266, 22 under par, achieved in exception-
ally demanding circumstances against a de-
termined field relentlessly breathing down
his neck.

Crocker barely hung on and his huge re-
ward was claimed after getting home by a
single shot for a first and memorable victo-
ry on the DP World Tour (European).   

He had held on during high winds onto
a single, or sometimes a two-shots lead all
day, with commentators referring to his
composed and positive performance in the
face of intense and sustained pressure.

Crocker had set it all up on the first day
with a course record equalling 63. After that
he was in continual crisis as first one rival,
then another, came at him. At one stage in
the final round he was just two shots ahead
of no fewer than eight other players threat-
ening to catch or overtake him.

Typical of his round was two dropped

HawkZone
John
Kelley

shots on the 6th after a fluffed chip, but this
setback was immediately rectified by pol-
ished birdies on the next two holes as the
others scrambled in vain to take advantage.

Crocker is now ranked 38th on the Euro-
pean PGA Tour, which secures him invita-
tions to other upcoming tournaments. This
was a major breakthrough for the tall blond
whose family took him from Harare to Cal-
ifornia at the age of five — and a productive
career now beckons.

Sean is the son of former Zimbabwe
cricketer Gary Crocker, who migrated to
the United States with his family.

Although his son now plays golf under
the American flag, he remains incredibly
proud of his Zimbabwean roots, just like
his old man.

That Zimbabwe continues to produce
world-class golfers, or sports stars in gen-
eral, is testament to the great potential that
this country has at a global scale.

But a way has to be found to keep these
shining stars at home. Zimbabwe cannot
afford to have its best sport talent contin-
uously being “poached” by the bigger na-
tions, who already have an advantage due
to higher populations and better national
economies.

*John Kelley is a veteran author, jour-
nalist and keen golfer. He contributes reg-
ularly to The NewsHawks.

NewsHawks Sport Page 53

Issue 92, 5 August 2022 ‘Gutted’: The effect Zimbabwe’s
football ban is having on youth
AS Zimbabwe remains suspended
from international football, players in League, has been capped six times by said Mlotshwa. “Missing Afcon is a very big disap- Jordan Zemura.
the country – from a very promising Zimbabwe, including at this year’s With funding from Fifa frozen, pointment to the players and fans,” In 2021, he signed for Arkansas
rookie who made his national team AFCON. Munetsi told Al Jazeera. Wolves, and was later selected by
debut as a schoolboy to the estab- and the national team not playing, Zimbabwe for an annual regional
lished professionals plying their trade Because of Covid-related distur- it could adversely affect growth and “I missed out on the last tourna- tournament in South Africa, making
in Europe’s best leagues – have spo- bances, Zemura arrived late in Cam- interest in the game in the country. ment because of injury and then not one appearance.
ken of their anguish and frustration. eroon for the tournament and played being able to represent my country Chuffed by the call-up, he hoped
only one full game for the Warriors. Still, Mlotshwa maintains that all again is even more disappointing.” for more international opportunities
In November last year, Zimbabwe is under control. to boost his chances of moving to a
Football Association (Zifa) president But he impressed onlookers enough With football in the country in bigger league.
Felton Kamambo and his entire ex- to be dubbed a future captain. “There was obvious disappoint- limbo, and no solutions in sight, “It’s really disappointing to see
ecutive were removed by the Sports ment from some quarters, especially Munetsi fears the future could be us as a country not playing,” Dube,
and Recreation Commission (SRC), a “I’m gutted that we won’t be able the football fans who just want to see bleak. who hails from the small coal-min-
government body that controls sport to have the chance to qualify [for AF- the Warriors playing. But I think that ing town of Hwange in northwestern
in the country, after being accused of CON],” Zemura told Al Jazeera. they, too, will come to appreciate that “The future of our football is Zimbabwe, told Al Jazeera.
corruption, misadministration and the suspension is for the long-term clouded in uncertainty because we “For us younger players, playing
sexual harassment of female match “I’m hoping that things can be benefit of the game in Zimbabwe.” have no clue of what’s going on. Ev- international football increases our
officials. resolved as playing for my country eryone is concerned with how the chances of being recognised in other
is everything for me. Missing these The sacked Zifa officials refused situation was handled. The current markets, like Europe and in America.
Three months later, Zimbabwe tournaments and opportunities hurt.” to comment on the matter, telling Al generation, and those that will come, Not playing international football
were expelled from the 2024 Africa Jazeera they were barred from discuss- will lose big opportunities to chase affects us because for now, no one is
Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers af- Gerald Mlotshwa, head of the ing the matter in public as they are their dreams and changing their lives getting called up, and no one is get-
ter the SRC refused to comply with SRC, told Al Jazeera that they “ex- under investigation. through football.” ting those caps. Nobody is noticing
a Fifa directive to reinstate those of- pected the ban” from Fifa. us.
ficials. It remains unclear when Zim- Meanwhile, another big Zimba- The apparent dejection caused by “It’s a setback. It is everyone’s
babwe will play international football “The conditions that had been put bwe star to reveal his “big disappoint- Zimbabwe’s ban has also been felt dream to represent their country at
again. forward by Fifa to avoid a ban were ment” is Marshall Munetsi, a mid- by another newcomer to the side – a big stage like Afcon. I think peo-
not in sync with what we at SRC had fielder at French side Reims, who was 24-year-old midfielder Nyasha Dube, ple who are running the organisation
For 19-year-old Bill Antonio, cur- sought,” Mlotshwa said, insisting that linked with a move to English side who arrived in the United States in (Zimbabwean FA) need to do what
rently the brightest young prospect in time away from international football Brighton and Hove Albion. 2017 on a football scholarship. Fifa is saying.”
Zimbabwe’s under-funded domestic will breathe new life into Zimbabwe- — Al Jazeera.
league, the disciplinary measure has an football. The 26-year-old missed this year’s After completing his studies at two
deprived him of the chance to attract Afcon due to injury and was looking universities, Dube has played for two
interest abroad. “In a sense, the suspension – not forward to bouncing back by helping senior clubs in the semi-professional
a ban — has allowed everyone to fo- Zimbabwe seal a place at the 2023 structures of the game in the US.
Last week, Antonio flew out for a cus on the reform process without the edition.
month-long trial with Belgian club distraction of the [Afcon] qualifiers,”
KV Mechelen, hoping his life can
take a turn for the better after a disad-
vantaged upbringing in one of Hara-
re’s low-income suburbs.

“The ban closed opportunities for
us young players,” Antonio told Al
Jazeera while he was still in Zimba-
bwe. “It slowed down things in terms
of marketing ourselves out there, be-
cause international football is where
everyone is noticed.”

Antonio was raised in Dzivarese-
kwa, a township in Harare where the
levels of drug abuse and other vices
among youth are rising worryingly
as the country battles worsening so-
cio-economic issues.

Antonio was able to block it out
and grew up well-disciplined, focus-
ing on his education and sport.

This won him a football scholarship
at Harare’s Prince Edward School,
a conveyor belt of sporting talent
whose list of alumni includes former
world number one golfer Nick Price,
cricket coach Duncan Fletcher as well
as a record-breaking Springboks rug-
by player Tonderai Chavhanga.

Last November, Antonio, still in
school, made headlines when he was
selected for the national team for a
World Cup qualifier in South Africa.

He played the last 13 minutes,
prompting foreign clubs to take no-
tice but some needed to watch him
play more at the international level
before being convinced.

Antonio, already a beadwinner for
his family, desperately needs more
time on the field but the country’s
suspension dealt him a heavy blow.

“It’s an opportunity missed indeed
because the more opportunities to
play international football, the great-
er your profile becomes.”

For 22-year-old defender Jordan
Zemura, the suspension dealt a dif-
ferent kind of pain.

It has always been some kind of
romantic connection with the home-
land of his immigrant Zimbabwean
parents for the London-born Zemura
to play for Zimbabwe.

The roving wing-back, who played
a significant role in Bournemouth’s
promotion to the English Premier

Sports Nurturing
footballers
on the other
side of town

Romanticism v
Realism: How we
blew it againThursday 1 October 2020

Friday 5 August 2022 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

NEWS WHAT’S INSIDE CCrruaeUnogddmLuieTolmraUtruRieonEvniitsceyweDnhtoauunrbidolens
rejuvenatedStory on Page 8
$60 Covid
tariff for Zimbabwe
fabulous win
Ex-England star Garyvisitors &
tourists ENOCK MUCHINJO
BatlolatnhceeZi‘wmoCeuhtlectaaomtmmoiesK’ ahruepaecStoryonPage 3 at Harare Sports Club

JUST three months ago, when Zimba-
bwe’s cricket team was being bullied by
the likes of Namibia and Nepal, only a
hopeless loony would have backed the
Unofficial president calls for emergeChevrons to win a T20I series against
Bangladesh, and then be 1-0 up in the
ODIs after successfully chasing down
304.
It was a defeated state of the mind
that knew no bounds.
A change of coach, the return of
former national team captain Dave
Houghton, has waved the magic wand
for the Zimbabwean side.
The players, remarkably, are the same,
but with a newfound fighting spirit that
has brought the fans back to the stadi-
um and helped the national mood.
In fact, the side that won by five
wickets on Friday did not have four se-
nior regulars – captain Craig Ervine and
fellow batter Sean Williams alongside
bowling spearheads Blessing Muzaraba-
ni and Tendai Chatara.
They however had the magician,
Sikandar Raza, once again the hero of
the side with a fabulous unbeaten cen-
tury. Brilliant stuff, with 29-year-old
Innocent Kaia also a centurion only in
ENOCK MUCHINJO are there,” Mukuhlani told The New- Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq a Gary Ballance. his fourth ODI match.
Hawks as Zimbabwe were cruising to a “P**i” but later said he “deeply regrets sults, Mukuhlani said: “In the last two
seasons a lot of cricket has been played. 36-year-old Raza, now firmly the tal-
isman of this team, played a masterful
five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the some of the language I used in my It was the first time in years that two innings, taking the attack to the Bangla-
FORMER England star Gary Ballance first of three ODIs. younger years”. Zimbabwean teams played at the same desh bowlers and finding the gaps with
is welcome to play for Zimbabwe, the “You’ll appreciate that we are build- Mukuhlani said Ballance’s case in the time, one in Nepal and the other here flair as well as aplomb. He smashed 135
country’s national cricket association ing a team, so any Zimbabwean is wel- UK will not prevent his intended switch against Namibia. Obviously you start to runs off 109 balls, including eight fours
chairperson, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, has come. We brought back BT (Brendan to the Zimbabwe team. see results. You’ll appreciate that Inno- and six sixes.
said. Taylor), we brought back (Kyle) Jarvis, “We wouldn’t want to comment on cent (Kaia) Wessly (Madhevere), Milton Kaia gave good company, notching
we brought back Solomon Mire.  We that,” remarked Mukuhlani. “It’s an issue (Shumba) didn’t come in the last two up his maiden ODI hundred, 110 off
Reports in the United Kingdom this were too late for the Curran brothers between him and the ECB. For us, he’s seasons. It’s been work in progress. We 122 balls.
week said the 32-year-old batsman has (England internationals Tom and Sam Zimbabwean. It’s actually an anomaly are not yet there. We are happy we won Their partnership for the fourth
submitted an application to change in- the (T20) series. But there is still a lot to wicket, 192, becomes the third highest
ternational allegiance to his country of Curran) and Colin de Grandhomme. that he is not playing for Zimbabwe.”
birth after completing a stand-down pe- So this won’t be the first time.” ALecelcceShonadfpaattTTBoO-itcrahuhavaghlielareenlnrInaifDnNniod6awnar4ceqSgtaved-ahusyeItesibieosDceaaaHkceparttofEt-pohtfeounnouoerlrderigdtnntprohssetahptefctrooetdeheoFonwrlneulim,itnanbnAonwerduaffirdJrpnhuoZnitoghcZfnuicamateirnohmsiensbvetpsobeaMiirtidrnabneetbewasfatiilr.wmhknudee’eees---.istypMotbianhlnewageacrlZ“dykkrTiphoCioptchlhonran’ksaueeayeiesrnr,.e”stemsbsd.afheWo,i”oadneanrduMnesmade’vtgbbdaoeiiekem$nnehnotgtn3heinoonsat.istdtd2tiohshciartetamBhieiasddmceneiu.tladreorc“leeihrWbisso,onruuceeutnGllr’eatttvissrkice.v.dn”ok.epaneIemttutipcotbotahnireonnee--sitobhbOvwdiryauiingDbstrITZehhitwtnhIifewm,h1ieusgesotaa0itbstnnfaaehtbalgtsZecdseboaarooihlwniVmslnSnsastetdBshvbtutaoeeaOagSrBbresasestaDwpaceirnncoicaCeeIhgosrrZsetaelienbas.rdbdiIdldamoanistehcndslts3kemiuh'im0Ssanai.ue7nnedilnn-nadr52,tdewt0dASaae0ytosendo.4asdeinZ.tnlawiEtlimahdairnnee--nd
riod of four years. Harare-born Ballance Ballance however has controver- c
represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Un-
der-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka but went sy hanging over his head after he was
on to have a senior career with England, charged by the England and Wales
playing 23 Tests and 16 ODIs between Cricket Board (ECB) in June for his
2013 and 2017. involvement in a racism scandal at En-
glish county team Yorkshire.
“As ZC, we are looking for any Zim-
babwean who wants to can come and In a statement last November, Bal-
fight for honours with players that lance admitted calling Pakistan-born

ALSO INSIDE ‘Gutted’: The effect Zim’s football ban is having on youth