The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
MULTI talented sportsman Brian Mhuriyengwe, a national junior representative in four sporting disciplines is in line to receive a basketball scholarship at the University of South Florida in the United States of America. The 19-year-old Mhuriyengwe who finished his high school studies at Falcon College in Esigodini last year wore national team colours in athletics, basketball, cricket and rugby during his schooling days.
Mhuriyengwe will study Sports Science, a 4 year degree programme, while turning out for the university’s basketball team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association First Division.
The lanky athlete plays shooting guard in basketball, a sport which was actually not his first choice.
He disclosed that for now he has been offered a partial scholarship by the American university while the institution waits for his parents to pay a deposit as a way of their commitment which will then make him eligible for full funding for his studies.
“I have been accepted to study for a Sports Science degree at the University of South Florida. For now I have been offered part funding for my studies while they wait for my parents to pay a deposit which then makes me qualify for a basketball scholarship,’’ said Mhuriyengwe.
It has been an incredible sporting journey for the youngster, who, while at Petra Primary School in Bulawayo, was offered a soccer scholarship by South African football giants Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers had spotted him playing as a central striker for his school while on tour to the neighbouring country. However, his parents felt he was too young to take up such an offer.
In 2009, Mhuriyengwe played for the national Under-14 cricket team as a pace bowler.
Mhuriyengwe drifted away from soccer and cricket later on to concentrate on basketball, athletics as well as rugby, as his top priority sports.
In basketball, a sport he only took up at the age of 15, he made it into the Zimbabwe Under-16 national team in 2011, was twice chosen for the national Under-18 team in 2012 and 2013 for the Confederation of School Sport Association of Southern Africa Games in Namibia. Zimbabwe won silver in 2013 and scooped gold the following year. Last year, Mhuriyengwe was part of the Zimbabwe team for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games held in Bulawayo but did not play after sustaining a facial injury which sidelined him for a few months.
A short distance runner in athletics, Mhuriyengwe was part of the Zimbabwe team for the 1st African Youth Athletics Championship in Warri, Nigeria where he competed in the 200m and 400m individual events in March 2013.
In rugby, Mhuriyengwe first donned national colours in 2013 when he was chosen for the Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in South Africa. He went a notch up last year when he made the Zimbabwe Under-18 for the Coca-Cola Craven Week in Middelburg, South Africa.
While the Stephen Bhasera captained Young Sables lost the three matches they played at the Under-18 Craven Week, Mhuriyengwe was one of the Zimbabwean youngsters who caught the eye of scouts from some South African franchise rugby sides.
Nhuriyengwe disclosed he was offered seven bursaries to study in South Africa which he all turned down. Some of these were from the Sharks (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Bulls (University of Pretoria and Lions (University of Johannesburg).
“I got seven bursary offers at the Craven Week but I turned them down because their sports science degrees are not stronger as the ones in USA. I want more opportunities that is why I want to go to America,’’ Mhuriyengwe said.
He won himself a lot of accolades at Falcon College during the six years he was at the school. He was voted the Most Valuable Player during the 2012 Falcon College Invitational basketball tournament; he was captain of the school’s basketball team as well as in athletics. Last year saw Mhuriyengwe walk away with the Sportsman of the Year award at Falcon College
While he waits for his departure for the USA which is only in July, Mhuriyengwe has signed up to play for the Southern Mavericks in the Bulawayo Basketball League as a way of staying in shape. It would be the first time that he is playing in a local club set up.
The Zvishavane born Mhuriyengwe must have inherited his sporting talent from his mother Agnes who actively participated in hockey, basketball as well as athletics in high school and is now a businesswoman in Bulawayo. The youngster attributes most of the skill he posses to what he was taught by his brother Jeffrey who is a cricket player for Queens Sports Club.
Mhuriyengwe has set his sights firmly on finishing his degree before pursuing a career in the National Basketball League. He intends to advance his studies when his sporting career is over.
