The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent —
REEDEMER ‘Rimz’ Njovo has continued to attract rave reviews following a string of outstanding performances by Dangamvura Knights captain in the Manicaland Basketball League, with the latest plaudits coming from MBL president, Tonde Shasha.
With so much praise being poured on the Dangamvura Knights player who is lighting up the MBL with one top drawer performance after another, the stage is set for him to finally climb onto the podium for a place in the national team.
The Weekender caught up with the ever smiling Rimz and here is what he had to say about his glowing career:
“I am aiming higher this season. I cannot really say I have made it, but I am working very hard. I want to be the most valuable player this season and also to be part of the national team,” he said.
The player was three years ago named captain of the team and has never looked back.
Manicaland Basketball League president and Dangamvura Knights coach, Tonde Shasha, who has vast experience in basketball praised the youngster for his instrumental role. He also believes he is among Zimbabwe’s finest.
He said: “He is a good player who always leads by example. He is very humble and soft spoken. He is a product of Dangamvura Knights Basketball Academy. I also believe that he can be rated among the country’s best players.”
Rimz made history while at Dangamvura High School when he led the high-density school to the national championship two years in a row in 2012 and 2013.
In those two occasions the school won gold. He is a left hander point guard and was selected into the men senior team in 2014 as number two point guard behind national team point guard Moses Muyambo who is also from Dangamvura Knights.
He is now the starting point guard for his club which is ranked fifth in the nation and is currently leading the 10-team log with 15 points off eight starts.
Africa University is second with the same number of points, while early pacesetters, Mercenaries are on third position with 12 points.
Giants are rooted at the bottom of the log with 6 points. In their next encounter Dangamvura Knights will face Mercenaries on December 22. Rimz said one of his best games was in 2014 when he was still at high school.
“My best game was in 2014 while at high school. It was during the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in Bulawayo and as a province, we were down at half time. In the third quarter we managed to score 23 points and in the fourth quarter we continued with our five-star performances. At the end we won by eight points.
“My worst game was in 2015 when we went to the national league finals. We played against Cameo of Harare and lost in the semi-finals by 10 points. My embarrassing moment was in 2012. We participated in the Governors’ Trophy where we player Mercenaries in the finals. I still remember very well how Innocent Sithole tackled me and the tackle left me sprawling on the ground. It was so embarrassing. After that game my team mates teased me and it was so embarrassing,” he chuckled.
Rimz was born on September 25, 1995 in Dangamvura. He attended Sheni Primary School before enrolling at Sakubva High School for his Ordinary Level. He did his Advanced Level at Dangamvura High School. He is looking forward to study Law.
“I am prepared to double the effort and do better. I want to bring the best out of myself. It is not going to be easy, but I am ready and willing to work myself up. I am improving a lot judging from the previous season. The secret is hard work. As the captain, I always tell my team-mates before every game to play our normal game and to work as a team,” he said.
Such is the determination of the 21-year-old who was raised in Dangamvura.
