FOR the founder of Marondera-located Hokima Academy Kudzai Mutiti, nothing comes between his love affair with cricket.
Having come from humble beginnings where he traversed the streets of Marondera selling airtime at some point to realising his cricket dream, Mutiti has a story to tell.
And Mutiti will this month be able to tell his story in a documentary that chronicles his journey in cricket, which started in Marondera and has seen him landing a place at one of England’s cricket clubs.
In England Mutiti is turning out for Northampton-based outfit Great Houghton after joining them earlier in the year and doubles as a coach for the juniors at the club.
The documentary titled “The Love Affair” tells the story of how Mutiti fell in love with cricket at the age of eight and despite trying his hand at other sports he always found himself back on the cricket field.
“Cricket has always been my first love. The title “The Love Affair”, is an illustration of how I fell in love with the game of cricket and within the lows and highs of pursuing other things in life, my heart always brought me back to the game of cricket and I realized that me and cricket were inseparable lovers,” Mutiti he told The Sports Hub.
Reflecting on the moment in his life where he used to sell airtime, Mutiti revealed that the documentary seeks to inspire both the young and grown-ups to fight for their dreams.
“And apart from the documentary telling about my story, it also seeks to inspire the current and the next generation of sports stars to be determined in getting their dream while it also teaches about perseverance,” he said.
The 30-year-old cricketer grew up in a family where football was the most supported sport and it was only until the age of eight when he was introduced to cricket.
Since then Mutiti has never looked back inspite of the fact that on numerous occasions he came close to ditching the sport to follow other commitments.
But his love and attachment to the sport always saw him returning to his love.
“Initially I played football, my dad used to take me to a lot of football games to support Harare giants Dynamos football club, but two men with the name Mr Gwatiringa and Mr Kaswa introduced me to the game of cricket at a high density school in Marondera called Nyameni Primary,” he said.
He fell in love with the sport so much that he almost enrolled for a place for a teaching role as he sought to continue with his passion in working with upcoming cricketers.
Unfortunately, his bid hit a brick wall only to be allowed to work with the children as coach.
“I even tried pursuing a career in teaching but I failed to make the grading system for me to be able to be allowed to enroll as a teacher.
“But I am very grateful to Lendy Park school and Springvale House in Marondera that gave me the opportunity to express my passion through the game of cricket,” he said.
Mutiti has since established a cricket academy in Marondera as he feels the needs to give back to the community and help disadvantaged kids realize their dreams.
“I founded Hokima Cricket Academy with Hokima being a Hebrew word that means wisdom, and I would like to believe that we teach more than basic cricket fundamentals here,” he said
Mutiti believes that the documentary will tell his story which saw him rising from being an airtime vendor in Marondera to holding various cricket posts in Mashonaland East before moving to the UK where he is currently playing and coaching cricket.
He frequently returns to Zimbabwe to work with the academy which is located in Paradise Park, off Mutare Road.
Mutiti made use of his parents' land to set up a home for the academy which comprises the administration office, analysis room, cricket nets and a cricket field.
