The man who changed my life is changing cricket in Botswana.
Stanley Timoni gave me my first shot at professional cricket in 2015, and he has taken his coaching journey to Zimbabwe’s neighbour to the west.
I was on my way home after a training session with my mates at Harare Sports Club when Timoni called me. “Young man, I will be coaching Eagles, and I want you on my team. Come for training, and you will be rewarded.” Just like that, poor Brighton Zhawi’s dream was made.
It’s a long list of people who have contributed to my cricket journey, and no one is more important than the other. So why have I picked Timoni for a chat with The Thirdman? Well, Timoni is a history-maker in the Zimbabwe Cricket Domestic League. He led the Eagles to a treble, the Logan Cup, the Pro 50 Championship, and the T20 title during the 2015/16 season. No one had achieved this feat, and it still stands to date.
I got quite emotional when caught up with my coach, and my first question was ‘Why did he believe in me?’
“To be honest, I had seen the potential in you during the club matches and the hunger towards this lovely game of ours. I saw a young hard worker who wanted it and could see you drinking, eating, dreaming cricket all every hour. “Your heart was in the right place.”
Timoni’s tenure at Eagles uplifted so many careers, including that of Leonard Nhamburo, who is now coaching the Rwanda Women’s team. Coincidentally, when I had a chat with Timoni for this article, he was with Nhamburo, who is in Botswana for the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament.
Timoni is full of praise for his former assistant at Eagles, Nhamburo, who has also coached Namibia Women’s team.
“I feel happy, and whatever we do is God-given talent and blessings. As a people, we guide and show each other the right path to follow. I am very proud of him because he is showing the whole world a good work ethic.”
Three trophies in a season, how is that?
“When Grace locates you, favor follows you. It was God who made it possible. “I am a coach who believes in the power of unknown players like you. Yes, experience is wanted, but not too many experienced players will perform to the fullest. The unknown will be hungry and will deliver wholeheartedly. If you still recall during that season, I used lots of young players, and it worked.”
So, coach, did you expect to bag all three trophies, or did three come as a surprise?
“I had done my homework properly, though I never expected to win more than two trophies. My target was two out of the three.”
And now you are coaching a national team. How did that happen?
“The Botswana Cricket Association was following my work. With the help of Givemore Makoni (Zimbabwe Cricket MD), who also recommended me to them. I am coaching all four National teams, the Men’s National team, Women’s National team, Under 19 boys and Girls National teams. I have assistant coaches helping me out.
I started in July 2023, a month before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers Division 2, and we qualified for the Division 1 World Cup qualifiers in Uganda, which was staged in December 2023.”
Timoni is under no illusion the Botswana gig is a bigger challenge. “This side, we don’t have the numbers of players we had in Zimbabwe, but with time and the systems which are coming in place, we will get there.”
So what’s your vision for Botswana Cricket?
“To provide an exciting and enjoyable coaching environment for all the players to complete and lead as ambassadors of the game on and off the field. For a team to be successful, it needs smart objectives which are developed, implemented, and monitored periodically to remain abreast of the intended expectations.”
With Timoni at the helm, Botswana Cricket is in good hands.
One of the many unsung or perhaps unheralded mentors in Zimbabwe cricket circle. His unassuming nature, going about his business quietly – in the shadows more like , but yet effective and getting the results.
For me Stan was a chance encounter – Umpiring training effectively leading me to be a match ref- Logan Cup and Pro 50 competition 2009 -12. I learnt a lot from him. He even encouraged me to get some coaching certification- but that wasn’t me.
I wish him well in Botswana- if they lean on his knowledge and understanding of the game they will surely develop in leaps and bounds
He is indeed a great man! You can say that again.