The Sunday News
AT a time when the game of cricket is finding it hard to catch the attention of sponsors at national level, Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association (BMCA) have found a financier for their first league from a Harare-based law firm, Titan Law.
The development will see the top league in the metropolitan province which is made up of four teams now called the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association Titan Law First League. The league got under way last month and concludes in March next year with a Twenty20 competition.
BMCA chairman Gary Nyumbu disclosed that according to Titan Law Senior Partner Gerald Mlotshwa, the agreement is in the region of $100 000. That amount covers prize money for the four-team 50 over First League, playing uniforms, transport, refreshments, food as well as accolades for the end of season Twenty20 tournament.
Recently launched at a glamorous event at the home of cricket in Bulawayo Queens Sports Club, the sponsorship is sure to increase enthusiasm among the four teams in the metropolitan provincial league with a stiff contest for the top spot.
A discussion during Zimbabwe’s triangular series encounter against South Africa in August between Nyumbu and Mlotshwa who grew up together in Bulawayo gave birth to the partnership.
Nyumbu expressed joy after securing the financial backing which will go a long way in showing the Bulawayo cricket community that his cricket board is committed to bring back the cricket glory days to the country’s second largest city.
“We as the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association are excited about the sponsorship and will deliver the goals we have set to bring back cricket to Bulawayo. Our board is dedicated and have the energy to work for the love of the game. We also want the people of Bulawayo to come and watch our local games at Queens on Saturdays and Sundays together we can bring cricket alive in the city,’’ Nyumbu said.
Mlotshwa explained that his decision to sponsor Bulawayo cricket was simply because he grew up, went to school in the city and felt he had an obligation to support a sport he played during his youthful days. His law firm already supports the Josiah Magama Tongogara Foundation which seeks to carry on the legacy of the late freedom fighter and national hero Josiah Tongogara.
“I am from Bulawayo, I grew up there, went to school there, played provincial cricket there from junior to high school and my parents are still there, it is home. Ultimately it doesn’t matter where we are from, we support the Josiah Magama Tongogara Foundation as well. We support causes that make sense,’’ said Mlotshwa.
Going into this weekend’s matches, Bulawayo Athletic Club, a club with big names such as the Matabeleland Tuskers trio of top order batsman Sean Williams, medium pace bowler Tawanda Mupariwa as well as their latest acquisition, left arm seamer Brian Vitori were on top of the log with 16 points, Queens Sports Club occupied second spot with 15 points, Roosters were third with 15 points while Emakhandeni, a club that dominated Bulawayo cricket for some years were at the bottom with six points. Emakhandeni have been a victim of their own success as most of their key players like John Nyumbu, Brian Chari and Steven Chimhamhiwa have been away on national duty.
For now, only Queens Sports Club is being utilised for the top league as BAC is closed for renovations to its changing rooms for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games with the venue to be available at the conclusion of the Games.
Gary Nyumbu pointed out that they were still working on plans to invite a team from out of Bulawayo or outside the borders of Zimbabwe for the season ending Twenty20 competition at the conclusion of the league in March next year.
With the sponsorship from Titan Law, the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association First League intensity will even go a gear up which might start attracting crowds to come and watch club cricket, which does not attract as many people at the moment.
