PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday hailed a new dawn for Zimbabwean sport, formally congratulating the senior men’s cricket team and the senior women’s football team for their recent exploits in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the Cosafa Women’s Cup, respectively.
The Chevrons defied the odds to reach the tournament’s Super 8 for the first time in the history of the country, earning an automatic slot for the next T20 World Cup event to be held in New Zealand and Australia.
The Mighty Warriors also went all the way to the semi-finals of the Cosafa Women’s Championships, before they were eliminated by hosts South Africa in a penalty shootout after their game had ended 1-all.
Speaking at the glitzy launch of the US$25 million Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup — now the richest trophy in the country’s history — Mnangagwa described the two teams as the embodiment of the Zimbabwean spirit.
“On behalf of the government and the nation as a whole, I formally wish to congratulate our national cricket team, the Chevrons, for their splendid display at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Mnangagwa said.
“I equally commend the Mighty Warriors for their performance during the Women’s Cosafa tournament. They are indeed a worthy representation of our collective national trait of determination, resilience, and pride.”
He added: “May the exploits of the Mighty Warriors and the Chevrons be a source of inspiration to our many young people and an assurance that they too can showcase their God-given talents on the world stage.”
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Their journey to a historic first-ever Super 8 berth was paved with giant-killing acts that sent shockwaves throughout the cricketing world.
The Sikandar Raza-captained side stunned 2021 champions Australia by 23 runs, a result that ultimately dumped the Aussies out of the tournament.
They followed up by chasing down 179 to beat co-hosts Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in front of a stunned Colombo crowd.
By finishing top of Group B unbeaten, Zimbabwe secured an automatic ticket to the next T20 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
Though they eventually succumbed to heavyweights India, South Africa and the West Indies in the Super 8s, the Chevrons will return home as heroes who have earned the “respect of the world,” according to Raza.
Not to be outdone, the Mighty Warriors proved they are a sleeping giant awakened.
After an unbeaten run through the Cosafa Women’s Cup group stages, including a clinical victory over Botswana and a gritty draw against Zambia, they faced off against arch-rivals South Africa in a high-stakes semi-final.
In a match defined by small margins, Ethel Chinyerere put Zimbabwe ahead with a spectacular long-range strike inside 10 minutes.
The hosts equalised before halftime, leading to a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Despite a heroic display, the Mighty Warriors fell 4-2 on spot-kicks before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat to Zambia in the third and fourth playoff match.
