VUSI SIBANDA -- BIOGRAPHY

FULL NAME: Vusimuzi Sibanda
BORN: At Highfields, Harare, 10 October 1983
MAJOR TEAMS: CFX Academy (2001/02). Present club side: Takashinga
KNOWN AS: Vusi Sibanda. Nickname: Sibs
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Medium Pace
OCCUPATION: CFX Academy student

FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 15-17 February 2002, CFX Academy v Manicaland, at Mutare Sports Club
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Still awaited

BIOGRAPHY (March 2002)

Vusi Sibanda comes from a sporting family but, like most other young black players in Zimbabwe, he has no family background in cricket. "I am the only one who plays cricket," he says, although he has an older brother who is a good football player in Bulawayo.

Vusi's interest began in Grade Three at Chipemberi Primary School in Highfields, a black township in Harare. ZCU coach Stephen Mangongo, the man who has inspired so many black players in Harare, introduced cricket to the pupils at the school and Vusi attended. He did have a year, in Grade Five and Six when he lost interest, but then returned with his enthusiasm renewed.

Chipemberi had a very successful year when Vusi was in Grade Seven, his final year, and won all their matches. His best performance was against Hellenic School, after his team was all out for 36. He opened the bowling and took eight wickets for four runs, winning the match for his team. He was later selected for a Zimbabwe Development team tour to South Africa.

He progressed to Churchill High School on the ZCU scholarship scheme, after successfully taking part in trials at Harare Sports Club; he was one out of only four out of 50 applicants to succeed, the other three being Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri. He forced his way into the school first team in Form Three. He remembers a great match at Under-16 level against Eaglesvale School, after the opposition scored 240; he batted at number three and scored 95, sharing in a good partnership with Masakadza to win the match,

In the meantime he had represented Mashonaland at Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 levels, but without great success, thus failing to gain selection for the national side at those levels. He joined Takashinga to play club cricket, his best performance being 68 not out as opener to guide his side to victory.

Vusi left school in 1999, to supplement his O-levels for a year. At that time he played for and captained a Harare development side. He `took a chance', as he says, in applying for the CFX Academy for 2002, encouraged by Stephen Mangongo, and was selected.

Vusi's highest score in any class of cricket was 123 for Churchill at Under-14 level, but he doesn't consider it to be his best performance. He is strong on the pull and drive, and likes to bat at number three or four, but is willing to open if it benefits the team.

The eight wickets he took for Chipemberi against Hellenic at junior school remains his best bowling performance. Nowadays he moves the ball away from the bat, in the air and off the pitch, but the Academy have not yet used his bowling. He likes to field in the slips or gully area.

He names, as expected, Stephen Mangongo as the coach who has helped him the most, and Stephen remains his personal coach.

Cricket heroes: Andy Flower - "I like the way he bats."

Toughest opponents: "Although I haven't played outside Zimbabwe, I can say Henry Olonga."

Proudest achievement so far: "To make it into the Academy side."

Best friends in cricket: Arnold Rushambwa, Hamilton Masakadza.

Other qualifications: None.

Other sports: Rugby and athletics (javelin, high jump, long jump) at school.

Outside interests: Running.

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