HARARE - Zimbabwe's Cricket chief selector Givemore Makoni has branded first-class cricketer Robertson Chinyengetere “mad” and a ‘failed lawyer” in a stunning outburst on a Facebook fan page.
Makoni’s rant came after he was invited by the administrator of the ZimCricket Talks page to explain why players from Takashinga Cricket Club, where Makoni is a founding member, seemed to get preferential treatment in national teams selection.
The long-serving cricket administrator initially responded calmly to the request from ZimCricket Talks, pointing out in his original post that cricketers from the Highfield-based club had always been picked on merit and even dominated selection long before his inclusion on the panel.
But Makoni appeared riled by a comment on the thread from Chinyengetere, a former Masvingo Sports Club and Southern Rocks batsman, who took the Takashinga founder to task over his statement.
“Mr Makoni and crew how many players have you told that if you want to play for the national team come and join us moreso we have seen scenarios where a player has gotten dropped, he goes from nowhere and plays two or a few more games of Takaz (Takashinga) and with that he is back in the national team,” commented Chinyengetere.
To which Makoni retorted: “You played for Rocks for two seasons. And then what happened. What was your average, how many hundreds did you (score). How many 50s. What is you total first-class runs. Go to cricinfo to refresh your memory. If you were good enough why were you (not) taken up by other franchises. You thought it was a God-given right to play for Rocks because you are from Masvingo. You are made (sic) no wonder your career as a lawyer failed before you even started. Franchise cricket is for all Zimbabweans regardless of where they are from that’s why (Brian) Vitori is playing in Harare when he is from Masvingo. Imagine if we were going to say all people from Masvingo should get out of Harare, the city will be empty. You are lazy as an individual ndosaka uchichengetwa ne mukadzi (that’s why you leave off your wife). If you want show you manhood on social media do it to your wife first. With you it's personal and since you have chosen this platform lets go. We have put in the hard yards and you call us bafoons (sic). Mupfanha iwewe, handeyi (young man, bring it on), like I said, I am here for three day (sic). I got whole dossier on you.”
Chinyengetere is law graduate from the University of Zimbabwe and once worked for Manase & Manase, a law firm owned by Zimbabwe Cricket vice-chairman Wilson Manase.
Makoni’s outburst drew criticism from most followers on the page, with Bless Qudhar Mafuva remarking:
“When it gets personal then the whole plot has been lost, I thought (Joseph) Madyembwa (page administrator) mamboti (you said) it’s a cricket page, everyone has a personal file, but splashing it here is wrong and moreover at you level Mr Makoni when you start saying personal stuff you only showing how you are losing it, zvekumba kwemunhu zvapinda papi (what has his personal life has to do with anything), let’s stick to cricket matters here.”
Chinyengetere himself hit back at Makoni, writing:
“You are a legend Givy you even know how my life goes and how I survive , anyway I will not comment on such shallow-minded comments, you must be keeping a trek (sic) of my life, that’s what your shallow head tells you about my livelihood what can I say.”