We are passionate about Zim cricket – Mpofu

We are passionate about Zim cricket – Mpofu

May 24th, 2014

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Extra Mile

National team fast bowler Chris Bobby Mpofu (CM) this week told The Zimbabwe Mail’s Grace Chirumanzu (GC) he is quite a good singer and he may in the future trade the cricket ball for the mic. But right now cricket remains his passion and he believes the players have been misunderstood in recent months. Excerpts:

GC: What have you been up to this off-season?

CM: I have been working on my fitness lately, I suffered a lot of injuries last season and I am also doing more gym work. I am spending more quality time with my wife and daughter because as cricketers, we struggle to get that during the season. I have also been helping out at the farm, which is something I love.

GC: You guys have been criticised by some sections of the cricket loving public who say you valued money more than you valued the goal of winning matches in the build up to and during the World T20, what do you say to that?

CM: As players we will always be criticised for various reasons, but it does not affect or bring us down. The fact on that is that one can never do well in a professional sport without having anything to put on the table. Most of us are breadwinners in our families and national pride alone will not help us provide for our families.

Chris Mpofu

Chris Mpofu

Our fans need to understand that we play with pride, but at the same time playing cricket is our form of employment and we cannot survive without being paid. We need people to understand our situation as players because if they do, they would actually empathise with us.

GC: Do you sometimes regret choosing cricket as a profession in Zimbabwe?

CM: I do not have any regrets choosing cricket. I started playing late when I was 16 and I could feel it that it was what I wanted to pursue in life. I could tell it was the right thing to do from day one even though I could have chosen football like any ghetto child.

I was also good at athletics, but cricket just felt right for me. If ever I was not going to choose cricket, I think I would have been a musician. I know I will have people laughing since they can’t picture me singing, but I am very good when it comes to music. I actually think I can sing better than I play cricket, maybe one day I will surprise my fans.

GC: What is it that you think people do not understand about cricket players?

CM: I don’t think people realise we are as human as they are. We are viewed as people who have a lot of money and still want more, they do not realise that we always do our best for the country.

GC: What do you think needs to be done for cricket to rise back to the levels we once competed in?

CM: I think the grassroots level needs to be worked on more so that the country can produce top class cricketers in future and I don’t think it (grassroots development) is being looked at big time like it used to. They (Zimbabwe Cricket) need to make sure to understand the reasons why we are losing a lot of good players to other nations. It is only when they identify and address those reasons that we would be able to keep our top players here because if we keep losing good players, we won’t be going anywhere as a country.

GC: You are a source of inspiration to many young cricketers out there, what would be your word of advice to them?

CM: I would say to them follow your dreams and stay humble and respect the game and it will take care of you.

GC: You are well travelled, how does it feel introducing yourself as a Zimbabwean player to other international players who have lost respect for Zimbabwe in recent years?

CM: I have never found it difficult to introduce myself as a Zimbabwean cricketer because I believe we are a country of fighters. No matter what obstacles we face we always stand up to the challenge and prevail. I am proud to be Zimbabwean.

GC: Who is considered the funny guy in national team and the serious and fierce character?

CM: I think the funniest would be Charles Coventry and Timmy Maruma. There is never a dull moment when they are around. The most serious one is my favourite coach Mr (Steven) Mangongo.

On and off the field he will tell a player his mind when things go wrong. He is quite a team person and he wants the best for every player. He is just awesome.

GC: Have you been a victim of some pranks in the national team camp?

CM: Unfortunately yes! I have been a victim. I remember Brandon Taylor calling me at 10pm using a woman’s voice saying my BDM batting kit had arrived and I was so happy rushing down to the elevator, only to realise there was nothing like that. I was so p**sed off to go down to a dead donkey, but luckily I got something a week later.