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Njabulo Ncube

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ONE of the country’s brightest cricket prospects Njabulo “Papa” Ncube has retraced his footsteps back to Matabeleland Tuskers, three years after leaving the Bulawayo-based franchise to pursue a coaching career in South Africa.

Tuskers coach Wayne James said Ncube has been training with his squad for two weeks and the pace bowler has been working hard to impress the gaffer.

“We’ve been doing intensive training for the past one month and the guys are all eager to play. We’ve  also had Njabulo Ncube returning from South Africa and he has been working hard doing lots of bowling, we also have Sean Williams returning  which means we really have a good  side which I believe will compete for honours. I believe Ncube’s return also gives our bowling attack some edge,” said James.

Ncube, described as a short, nippy fast bowler, first played cricket on the streets of Bulawayo’s Gwabalanda suburb and later represented Milton High School before finding his way into the Westerns Under-19s and B teams.

The right-arm seamer who considers Makhaya Ntini as his role model, represented Zimbabwe Under-19 at the 2008 World Cup in Malaysia.

He has also played for Mountaineers and it was in October 2011 when he got his first opportunity to play for Zimbabwe’s national team after being selected for the third One Day International against New Zealand. A three-wicket haul in that game earned Ncube a Test cap in Bulawayo against New Zealand.

Among top players that have signed for Matabeleland Tuskers are spinners Keith Dabengwa and John Nyumbu, Thabo Mboyi, promising opening batsman Brian Chari, pace  bowler Christopher Mpofu and Richmond Mutumbami.  former Manicaland Mountaineers’ Steven Chimamhiwa, new skipper Sean Williams, Goodwill Mamhiyo and Bradley Staddon.

@ZililoR