Mutare born basketball coach joins Chinese Club

26 Oct, 2018 - 00:10 0 Views
Mutare born basketball coach joins Chinese Club Dozva (left) with fellow Chinese coaches in Beijing.

The ManicaPost

Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
A MUTARE born basketball coach has taken his new career a step up after he joined YouCan YouDo Basketball Club in Beijing, China where he is coaching children from 4 to 20 years.

Tawanda Alfred Jadha Dozva was born and raised at Old Mutare Mission and attended Hartzell Primary and High Schools. He is a former Hartzell, Manicaland and Zimbabwe Under16 and 20 player. Post Sports caught up with the Beijing based coach.

“I was born and bred in Mutare. I grew up in an environment where basketball was a tradition. I was introduced to basketball by senior students like Farai Chidzingu,Collins Kanjanda,Vimbai Darikwa,Chenjerai Chambara,Simbarashe Mvere and Levi Mukono. All these guys grew up at Old Mutare Mission and made sure I played the game,” he said.
Dozva played for the famous Harare based club Cameo.

“In 2002 I moved to Harare where I played for Cameo for three season before I was linked with a move to Angola while preparing for trials in Portugal. In 2007, I got injured while playing in Angola. My career was cut short by an angle and knee injury at the same leg. I don’t regret now since I am coaching and enjoying the game I ever loved,” he said.

Dozva did BA in Sports Administration with a British University. He came back in 2011 and voluntarily coached his former school, Hartzell which he helped to qualify for top school. In 2012, Ted DeWolf his former coach at Hartzell hired him at Hillcrest College as a coach. The school won the provincial title the same year. Dozva also coached Manicaland Under-17 and Africa University athletics and basketball.
He joined YouCan YouDo Youth Club in May this year.

“I joined YouCanYouDo Youth International Basketball Club in Beijing which was given contracts by the Chinese Basketball Association to work with children. I work with children from 4-20 years old. Monday to Thursday I usually work for three hours. Fridays to Sundays, I work up to six hours. The club consist of former players from basketball powerhouses like Serbia, Spain, Ukraine and I am the first Zimbabwean to join,” he said.
Dozva paid tribute to his former coach Ted De Wolf.

“For me to be a better coach it is all because of Ted DeWolf. He mentored me to be a coach. He also felt I should fit in to coach athletics too. Moreover, Mr DeWolf recommended that I can fill in the national coach position, the position he once hold. I also want to pay tribute to former Hartzell basketball player Masarakufa Gumiro, who played a big role in assisting me to come here.

“It has been good to be here in China. I am learning a lot. l am enjoying everything here. The food is good, and at work we communicate in English. In shops or elsewhere we use Google translator and its easy with technology. Chinese are good people they are civil.
Dozva foresees future in Manicaland Basketball.

“Manicaland basketball has future .The current National team coach, Innocent Sithole is from Manicaland this is a sign enough that we have talent. Local coaches need support from schools to grow the sport since schools have the resources ,” he said.

He received lavish praise from coach DeWolf who had this to say:” He is more in love with coaching than anyone I know. He has volunteered numerous times to help with teams for no pay. At a time when most people are using sport to make money, Tawanda only said he wanted to learn more about coaching. That was his fee.”

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