ZBC Reporter
The introduction of the first ever cricket National Premier League and FC Platinum’s triumph in the CAF Champions League lead the list of sporting highlights this year as 2020 goes down memory lane as one of the worst years on the sporting front.
With 2019 eventful on the sporting front, 2020 was expected to be even busier as a number of tournaments were lined up.
However, that was not the case as most sporting activities were put on hold as government prioritized the safety of athletes, against the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Cricket
As the situation eased, the second half of year saw the introduction of the inaugural cricket National Premier League (NPL), while the women’s Fifty50 Challenge and T20 tournaments came as sweet music to the game’s enthusiasts.
Takashinga Cricket Club shrugged off competition from eight other teams and were crowned champions of the NPL, carving their own piece of history.
In the women’s game, an 8 wicket victory over Tuskers at Takashinga Cricket Club on December 5, ensured Eagles were crowned champions of the T20 series, while Mountaineers ruled the roost in the Fifty50 Challenge.
However, the Chevrons’ tour of Pakistan is something Zimbabwe would wish to forget.
Zimbabwe lost 2-1 in the ODIs before another disappointing 3-0 loss in the T20 series.
Then Chess
In June, the Zimbabwe Chess Federation partnered the World Chess Federation and launched the first ever series of online tournaments under the theme: “Checkmate Corona Virus.”
The federation would go on to participate at the inaugural Online Olympiad in October before sending a team of people with disabilities to a similar event last month.
Not to forget football
On the football front, champions FC Platinum captured the attention of Zimbabweans with some superb showings at the ongoing CAF Champions League with the club progressing to the first round of the prestigious continental showpiece.
The Platinum Miners saw off Mozambican champions Costa do Sol 4-1 on aggregate before dispatching Simba SC of Tanzania 1-0 in the first round first leg at the National Sports Stadium on the 22nd of this month, with the Zimbabwe champions set to travel to East Africa this week for the reverse fixture in Dar es Salaam on the January 6.
And Golf…
Early this month, Zimbabweans had something to smile about after professional golfer Robson Chinhoi scooped the Uganda Open at Kitante in Kampala, Uganda.
Lastly, Boxing…
To cap-off the month, boxer Brendon “Boika” Denes was crowned the new World Boxing Organisation Africa welterweight champion after dismissing Mikka Shonena of Namibia via a sixth round knock-out at the Windhoek Country Club.
Our fallen heroes of Sport in 2020
On the other hand, the year 2020 provided its own fair share of pain and sorrow with a number of sports people who include the likes of Richard Choruma, Barry Daka, Wellington Toni, Willie Luphahla, Tawanda Makombe, Gift Kamuriwo and Silas Nyabadza,passing on.
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