TAKASHINGA Cricket Club has named the two bowling ends at their Highfield ground after founding members Emmanuel Dube and Elvis Sembezeya, paying tribute to their role in building one of Zimbabwean cricket’s most influential community-based institutions.
The clubhouse end will now be known as the Emmanuel Dube End, with the opposite side designated the Elvis Sembezeya End.
The ceremony was held last Thursday ahead of the scheduled opening match of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 between hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland.
The match was later abandoned without a ball bowled due to wet patches on the outfield following persistent rain. Both Dube and Sembezeya were presented with commemorative plaques bearing their names.
Takashinga founder and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) managing director Givemore Makoni said the naming of the bowling ends was a deliberate act of preserving the club’s history and values.
“Takashinga was built on sacrifice, vision and service long before it became a success story recognised around the world,” Makoni said.
“Emmanuel Dube and Elvis Sembezeya were there from the very beginning, giving their time, energy and belief when there was little certainty of reward.
“By naming these ends after them, we are ensuring that every young player who runs in to bowl here understands whose shoulders they are standing on.
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“This is about culture, gratitude and legacy.”
ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who also attended the event, described the ceremony as a reminder of the importance of grassroots leadership in the growth of the game.
“Cricket in Zimbabwe is strongest when it is rooted in its communities and Takashinga is a shining example of that,” Mukuhlani said.
“This recognition honours individuals who laid foundations when there were no guarantees and no spotlight, yet whose work continues to benefit the national game.”
Former Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza, now tournament director for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, led the ceremony, describing the occasion as symbolic during a global tournament hosted in Zimbabwe.
“It is fitting that this honour comes during a World Cup, because Takashinga’s story is now part of the global cricket story,” Masakadza said. “This moment connects the club’s roots with its future and reminds young players that character and service matter as much as talent.”
The event attracted a wide cross-section of past and present players, administrators and stakeholders, including Takashinga chairman Blessing Ngondo.
Former Zimbabwe internationals Tatenda Taibu, Elton Chigumbura and Stuart Matsikenyeri were in attendance, alongside current national team players Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza.
Takashinga captain Roy Kaia was also present. Dube and Sembezeya were both talented right-arm seamers for Takashinga, who simultaneously contributed off the field as administrators, helping shape the club’s structure, mentoring young players and laying the foundations for its long-term success.
Their dual roles as players and administrators underscore their deep commitment to the club and Zimbabwe cricket.
Reacting to the honour, Dube said he was deeply moved, describing the recognition as both personal and collective.
“I was overwhelmed with emotion when Hamilton Masakadza broke the news. It meant the world to me, my family and the Takashinga family,” Dube said, adding that having a bowling end named after him was “a dream come true”.
Reflecting on the club’s journey, Dube said his greatest pride lay in “seeing our people thrive and own a piece of international cricket”, and urged young players to uphold Takashinga’s founding values.
“My message to young players running in from this end is simple: love each other, trust one another, believe in each other and work hard. “Respect, trust and hard work will grow Takashinga long after we are gone.”
Sembezeya said the reality of the honour only sank in shortly before the ceremony. “When the idea was spoken about, I thought it was bar talk. It only became real 15 minutes before the ceremony,” Sembezeya said.
“Being the first person to have one side of the ground named after him is special to me and my family.” Sembezeya said witnessing Takashinga’s evolution from a township project into an international venue had been particularly rewarding.
“Seeing Takashinga hosting international matches and celebrating these achievements with our community is priceless,” Sembezeya said.
He urged young players to remain committed to the principles on which the club was founded.
“The message we have always preached will never change – commitment, passion and perseverance always bring good results,” Sembezeya said.
“For all the young bowlers who will run in from these ends, always give your best and let God guide you.”
Founded in Highfield, one of Harare’s most densely populated townships, Takashinga Cricket Club was established to create access to cricket for talented young players regardless of background.
The club has since become a flagship model for community-based cricket development in Zimbabwe, producing numerous national team players and administrators while also hosting international matches.
The naming of the bowling ends will stand as a permanent reminder of Takashinga’s origins and the individuals whose commitment helped shape one of Zimbabwe cricket’s most influential development institutions.
