Zimbabwean cricketer (1985–2023)
Sinikiwe Mpofu
Full name Sinikiwe Gava Mpofu
Born (1985-02-21 ) 21 February 1985Bulawayo , ZimbabweDied 7 January 2023(2023-01-07) (aged 37)Masvingo , Zimbabwe Batting Right-handed Bowling Right-arm medium Relations Shepherd Makunura (husband)National side
Years Team ?–2021 Mountaineers 2021–2022 Southerns
Sinikiwe Gava Mpofu (21 February 1985 – 7 January 2023) was a Zimbabwean cricket player and coach.[1] She represented the Zimbabwe women's national cricket team at two editions of the Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier . She later coached Mountaineers and Southerns in Zimbabwean domestic cricket.
Early life
Mpofu was born on 21 February 1985 in Bulawayo , Zimbabwe.[1] She grew up in the suburb of Njube, attending Mtshede Primary School and Mpopoma High School .[2]
Playing career
Mpofu appeared in the Zimbabwe women's national cricket team 's first official international in 2006, playing alongside her high school classmate Thandolwenkosi Mlilo .[2] She was an all-rounder batting right-handed and bowling right-arm medium pace .[1] She began her domestic career with Bulawayo-based Westerns , but relocated to Harare in 2007 to study journalism, and moved to Northerns , also joining the Takashinga Cricket Club .[3]
Mpofu represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa and the 2011 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh.[2]
Coaching career
Mpofu was the first female Zimbabwean cricketer to transition to coaching.[2] She coached Zimbabwean women's team Mountaineers . During her tenure, Mountaineers won the 2020–21 Fifty50 Challenge .[4] In 2021, she was named head coach of the Southerns women's team.[5] She was part of the national team's technical staff at the 2022 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in the United Arab Emirates, under head coach Gary Brent . She was also due to accompany the women's national under-19 team to the 2023 Under-19 Women's Cricket World Cup in South Africa, but took compassionate leave following her husband's death.[2]
Personal life and death
Mpofu had two children with her husband Shepherd Makunura , a professional cricket coach, who died in December 2022 following a long illness.[6] She died on 7 January 2023 at the age of 37, less than a month after her husband's death.[7] [8] She reportedly collapsed at her home in Masvingo and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.[2]
References