The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL University of Science and Technology men’s team will represent the country at the Red Bull Campus Twenty20 Cricket Finals, a competition to be held in Sri Lanka next month.
A squad of 15 players, led by bowling all rounder Mzingaye Mdlongwa leaves the country on 7 September for the tournament which runs from 8 to 17 of the same month in Colombo and Galle. Former Nust student Pfungwadzashe Tsongora who plays for Roosters in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association First League is the coach for the Nust team.
Nust director of communication and marketing Felix Moyo said the institution is paying for the trip.
“Our cricket team leaves for Sri Lanka on 7 September, for the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals, the university is paying for the trip. The university is training complete citizens for tomorrow who are useful in other activities of life like sports and physical deliveries,’’ said Moyo.
Skipper Mdlongwa expressed his excitement with the chance to represent Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka.
“We are excited to be the first team in Zimbabwe to ever for those games, we are really excited, hopefully we compete and represent our nation,’’ said Mdlongwa.
Tsongora said they have been training hard prior to last month’s Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union Games held in Harare. They have had to put their fine tuning on hold since some of their players are taking part in the National Youth Games.
“I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work with this young group of players who are working hard to give Nust a real identity in the standards of world-class cricket. My work is made easier with the presence and experience of Bulawayo Metropolitan First league players who always take it personally if the team wasn’t playing well and that created a level for the rest of the players to aspire to.
I want to hold this group of players accountable to that kind of standard and I believe we have the talent to do that. This is a maiden appearance for Zimbabwe and we are really proud to have the honour to represent the country and the University in Sri Lanka We are hoping for gold, it will be hard work but we are looking forward to the challenge,’’ Tsongora said.
Nust got the invitation from the organisers of the tournament by virtue of being the champions at the Zimbabwe University Sports Association Games held in Bulawayo in March. They defeated Lupane State University in the Super Over at the Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy after the scores were tied.
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 24 runs to win the Red Bulls Campus Cricket Finals last year.
