Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
KWEKWE based cricket franchise outfit, Midwest Rhinos has appointed former national team right arm medium-fast swing bowler, Douglas Hondo to take over as coach following the departure of Grant Flower.

Flower left Rhinos to join Afghanistan as its batting coach before finding sanctuary in the Pakistan national team where he assumed the same role.

Hondo will be assisted by Adam Chisvo and their contracts are with effect from October 1 until the end of next season.

The 35-year-old Hondo who is the national cricket team bowling coach will only take up his new assignment after the Chevrons’ tour of Bangladesh.

The franchise side area manager, Admire Marodza confirmed the development.

“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Douglas Hondo as Midwest Rhinos coach and he will be assisted by Adam Chisvo. Hondo and Chisvo will be contracted to the franchise from October 1 until the end of the season.

“We wish the pair a fruitful stay and we are confident that they will bring success to Midwest Rhinos,” said Marodza.

Despite Rhinos having had some of the country’s top players like national test team captain, Brandan Taylor, top order batsman Vusi Sibanda, Rikki Wessels and seamer Richard Muzhange among others, success has eluded them since the inception of franchise cricket in 2010.

At one point the Kwekwe-based franchise side had England batsman Gary Ballance on their books.

Despite such big names the side has no silverware in their trophy cabinet.

The coming in of Hondo is expected to change the fortunes of the side for the better.

Hondo made his international cricket debut in 2001 against South Africa before a series of hamstring and back injuries forced him to take a sabbatical from the sport in 2005.

The seamer was later to return to full fitness but his stint was to be short-lived after a fallout with Zimbabwe Cricket who wanted him to cut his dreadlocks or he would be dropped. Hondo then trekked to England where he became player/coach of different clubs before heading to New Zealand.

The Kwekwe-born bowler returned home last year and was drafted into the national team by coach Stephen Mangongo where he assumed the role of assistant national team coach.