Saint Ignatius College (Zimbabwe) - Sporting History

Sporting History

Under the leadership and patronage of Father Edwards the chess team was a dominant player on the national chess scene for many years. The following students were members of the chess team over the years: Chengetai Dunduru (Captain), Clemence Mupfiga, Hopewell Mauwa, Leonard Ndino, Langton Nyatsanza, Mufudzi Maviki (also a member of the all conquering Quiz team), Kudzanayi Chipoka, Bruce Mubayiwa, Cleyson Mupfiga and Paul Soko. The strength of the chess team was largely due to the investment in terms of time and resources made at the school combined with the passion and enthusiasm of the students for the game. Father Edwards invested significantly in chess sets and chess books. The chess team received a big boost with the investment in chess clocks. The chess team travelled extensively attending tournaments throughout the country. The success of the chess team saw it being a regular fixture in the national newspapers and on the agenda at the school assembly. Chess was played on a daily basis in Junior House, Middle House and Senior House. St Ignatius College was one of the top schools in the Barclays Schools Chess League alongside the Prince Edward High School team led by Robert Gwaze, (currently International Master. Other schools of note in chess were Churchill, Mabvuku Boys High, Morgan High, Victoria High and Gokomere. Robert Gwaze would go on to become African Junior Chess Champion and come very close to becoming a chess grandmaster in later years. Over a period of years beginning from the early 90s, St Ignatius achieved promotion from the Barclays Chess League in successive years until it reached the A league where it was very competitive winning the League on at least one occasion. Bruce Mubayiwa came 4th in the 1996 African Junior Chess Championships, held in Maputo, Mozambique. He was the National Scholars Chess Champion in 1997. Hopewell Mauwa won the Zimbabwe National Intermediates Chess Championship in 1994. The chess team scored notable successes at the following chess tournaments: St Johns Annual Chess Festival (Borrowdale), St Dominic's Chess Festival (Chishawasha), Scholars National Championships and Kushinga Chess Festival (Marondera). The Mary Ward chess team was also very strong. Players of note included Tariro Zulu, Adelaide Chiyangwa and Priscilla Nyahwo who had come from St Dominic's Secondary School, the sister school of St Ignatius.In 2012 ,Guba Tafadzwa represented Zimbabwe in the under 20 tournament in Romania coming 13 .Masundire ,Guba and Marwizi make up the 2012 - 2013 chess team that haswon first league since 2010 .

Sport also thrived during these years. In rugby, under coach "Winnabe" Mudavanhu the rugby team (the Hounds) become a competitive force at the Annual Cottco Rugby Festival. In 2000 the rugby team won the "Most Promising Team" at the Cottco rugby festival while going unbeaten throughout the season.There was national recognition for the likes of Maxton Chisepo, Edmore Musasiwa and Tafadzwa Matimba. Provincial recognition went to Tafadzwa Mashayamombe(2002) and Tafadzwa Mugomo (2004).The 2010 "Hounds" rugby team made the biggest win in the COTTCO schools rugby festival, beating CMZ A WOOPING 109-0 .

In Track and Field St Ignatius boasted the talents of Tinashe Chimanikire, Baiwai Mutsau(1992–1995) and later Tafadzwa Shumba, Tapiwa Ndhlela(Discus) and Wrighton Chigumba (High Jump) (1995–2000), who dominated the short sprints competing at National level. In the later years Faraimose Kutadzaushe and Tafadzwa Ganyo dominated track and field up to national level (2000–2002). Basketball and Swimming would also enjoy significant success with notable contributions at both Provincial and National levels from the likes of Farai Zunguza, Stanley Mhizha, Bhero, Kuzi Mberi, Lovemore "LARRY" Chirombo, Paul Kadungure, who captained the team 1999 till 2000 and Farai Mose for basketball, while Sam Mboko, Walter Chisese, Iyanai Murimba, Tirivangani Chidyausiku (son of Chief Justice Chidyausiku, also a former student), Tafara Mbara, Tinashe Maringe, Tawanda Mudarikwa, Masimba Madondo, Takudzwa Samapundo and the Manyerenyere brothers (Brightwell, Trust & Wise), with the help of Tariro Badza and Tinashe "TinTin Fyte" Mangwiro kept St Ignatius in the "A" swimming league.During all these activities a group of young men usually in Form 4 would lead the school in song and dance encouraging the athletes. Most notable of these was the Form 4 group of 2002. Amongst these boys was Takura "Taso Mukute" Mukupe, Takura "Luda" Taaziva, Michael " Vitamin Toxicity" Munyaka and your boy Natsai "Remusoro" Musunga.As of 2012 ,Blessing "sula" Mlambo a form 3 student holds the Zimbabwe national record for Triple Jump under 16 .