ZORODZAI Damiso, Genesis Sporting founder has watched some of the Gladiators Cricket Club players grow from schoolboys into established cricketers, and seeing them reach another NPL T20 Blast final has given him plenty to smile about.
For roughly a decade, Genesis Sporting has been associated with Gladiators, a relationship Damiso now looks back on with considerable pride as the defending champions prepare to face SOGO Rangers in Saturday’s final at Harare Sports Club.
Friday’s 107-run demolition of Rimuka in the second qualifier was another reason to celebrate, particularly with Gladiators having reached the final despite missing several players who are away on national duty.
“As a partner to Gladiators, I’m very happy with the performance the boys have put in,” Damiso said.
“Given that some of the boys are away on national duty, those who have remained behind have filled those shoes very well.”
Damiso’s connection with the club stretches back to a time when some of the players were still balancing school and cricket. Their progress into the senior game has made the partnership especially satisfying for him.
“The partnership with Gladiators has been a very successful one. I think we’ve been together for the past 10 years,” he said.
“I’ve seen most of these boys since they were in high school. Now they are also players in Zimbabwe cricket circles.”
Those years have given him a different perspective on Gladiators’ success. Where supporters see runs, wickets and trophies, Damiso also sees familiar faces whose careers he has followed since their early days.
And the current side has given him another reason to be pleased.
Gladiators have reached their second successive final through a demanding route, beating Old Hararians by four wickets in Thursday’s Eliminator before overwhelming Rimuka the following evening.
The absence of some regular players could have complicated that journey. Instead, those available have taken their opportunities, something Damiso was quick to acknowledge.
Friday’s performance was their most emphatic of the knockout stages.
After electing to bat, Gladiators amassed 201/7 in 20 overs, with Naison Mare leading the scoring through a fine 73 from 44 deliveries.
Ashley Mufandauya’s return to the batting order brought immediate results. The aggressive opener smashed 39 from just 18 balls, striking four fours and three sixes.
Alongside Lennox Chando, who made 20 from 11 deliveries, Mufandauya helped Gladiators reach 51 without loss in only 23 balls.
The opening stand eventually ended at 61 when Mufandauya was bowled by Davis Murwendo in the fifth over. Chando followed shortly afterwards, but the early damage allowed Mare to build on a strong start.
Mare reached his half-century from 30 balls and added 55 for the third wicket with captain Milton Shumba, who made 19.
He then shared a 60-run partnership with Panashe Taruvinga, whose 16 helped Gladiators push towards the 200 mark.
Ignace Ntirenganya took 3/27 for Rimuka, while Murwendo returned 2/35.
If Gladiators’ batting had put Rimuka under pressure, Arineshto Vhezha made sure there would be no dramatic comeback.
The seamer ripped through the top order, dismissing Victor Chirwa for a duck, Villan Changa for 12 and Tarisai Musakanda without scoring.
He later bowled captain Takudzwanashe Kaitano for nine and had Tendai Chisoro caught for a duck as Rimuka slumped to 45/6 after six overs.
They were eventually dismissed for 94 in 17.4 overs, with Vhezha finishing on 5/20 from four overs, including a maiden.
It was his second successive player-of-the-match performance, following figures of 3/28 against Old Hararians.
Eight wickets in two knockout matches have made Vhezha one of the key figures in Gladiators’ push for another championship.
“Firstly, I’m actually delighted with my performance today. I feel like I really did quite well,” Vhezha said.
“I bowled to the plan and I kept on going to my strengths as well.”
His attention has already turned to Rangers, who qualified for the final after defeating Rimuka in Thursday’s first qualifier.
“Regarding tomorrow’s game, we’re just going to put God first in everything that we’re going to do,” he said.
“And we’ll try to bring it home to the team.”
For Damiso, the prospect of another championship also raises a familiar question among the Gladiators players: what might Genesis Sporting have in store for them?
He was asked whether there would be bonuses or special activities for the players and supporters, but offered no details.
“Definitely, there’s always a surprise. The boys know it,” he said.
“And whenever they see me here, they know something is okay.”
It was a playful answer that suggested the players have learned to associate his visits with something worth looking forward to.
Whether another surprise is waiting after Saturday’s final remains to be seen.
