WISE Owl Group of Schools stunned opponents Hellenic Academy to lift the coveted ST George's CABS T20 trophy in only their second year in the competition cementing their position as a force to be reckoned with in schoolboy cricket.
Their stock as a rugby and cricket powerhouse in the country has been growing over the last few years and their progress did not go unnoticed as they were finally invited to the prestigious St George’s College CABS T20 Smashing Cricket Tournament last year.
The Marondera-based side played exceptionally well in their debut tournament. However, there was heartbreak for head coach Jestinos Gwatiringa and his boys, as they won all their matches but it was not enough for them to book a place in the final.
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Wise Owl claimed victory in the 2024 edition of St George's CABS Smashing Cricket T20 Tournament beating Hellenic Academy by five wickets in the final a couple of weeks ago.
Under the guidance of Gwatiringa, the team's journey from underdogs to champions has turned heads in schoolboy cricket with many starting to notice all the hard work that has been put behind the scenes.
Last year's disappointment was palpable, but Gwatiringa saw it as an opportunity for growth.
“We learnt a lot from our first experience,” Gwatiringa told this publication. “We learnt very big lessons last year because we couldn't play in the final. This goes to show that cricket is evolving so you need to win your matches and also work on your net run rate."
Throughout the year, Gwatiringa implemented rigorous training sessions, focusing not just on technique but also on mental resilience so that his boys could learn how to handle pressure in crunch situations.Q
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“Winning the St George's CABS T20 really means a lot for me and my team. We were really disappointed last year because we lost out to play in the final because of an inferior net run rate, so this year we were really determined," he added.
Gwatiringa has been in the cricket development trenches in Zimbabwe for a long time and has seen it all.
He is not one to gloat about personal success as a coach but always speaks about the collective.
"Winning the tournament is really a blessing from the Almighty, it comes with a lot of teamwork, my technical team and all the players really put in a lot of effort," added Gwatiringa.
This year’s St George's CABS Smashing Cricket T20 Tournament was marked by intense competition, but Wise Owl entered with a renewed sense of purpose.
On their way to be crowned champions they beat teams like Falcon College, Marondera rivals Peterhouse, St John's College and Prince Edward among others.
Their only blemish in the group stage was losing to Christian Brothers College in a closely fought match by nine runs.
Cricket runs in the veins of the Gwatiringa family, his son Panashe opens the batting for Wise Owl and also bowls useful off-spin, making him a genuine all-rounder.
Panashe put on one of the best all-round performances of the tournament in the Marondera derby against Peterhouse, he scored 79 from 60 balls and took two for 23 in three overs giving Wise Owl a 43-run win.
"Panashe plays with his heart on his sleeve, he went to the Under-19 World Cup and that was not my decision so really choosing him to be in the school team is easy given his experience, check his stats any coach would love to have an all-rounder like that in their team," said Gwatiringa senior.
In the final against Hellenic Academy, Gwatiringa made a strategic move of bowling 20 overs of spin that helped Wise Owl restrict their more fancied opponents to 134-7 on a good batting surface.
"It is very fortunate that my team consists of a lot very good spin bowlers, so given the nature of T20 cricket it's fast paced and high tempo so we experimented with spin bowlers in the warm up games and it was working so we really just went on with our winning formula," said Gwatiringa on the tactic of using spin in the final.
"If you follow the whole tournament all our games, 75 percent of them we used spin bowlers."
For any team to win anything, you need players for big occasion, Wise Owl has one in Villan Changa who top scored in the final with a valiant 69 from 35 balls, a knock that consisted of eight fours and four towering sixes for the wicketkeeper batsman to lead his team to a five-wicket victory.
Coach Gwatiringa’s impact on the team extends beyond tactics and training. His emphasis on sportsmanship and camaraderie has fostered a supportive environment.
“We celebrate each other’s successes,” he said. “Every player contributes to the team’s success, and that’s what makes us strong.”
He also praised the school administration for their support.
"Unfortunately I can't disclose my salary or incentives but, to be honest I would like to thank the Wise Owl administration and especially the Makirimani family for taking care of us."
Gwatiringa’s vision for the future is equally ambitious as he plans to nurture more young talent and make Wise Owl the dominant cricket school.
"Given the momentum that my team has I hope to play and win the final at the St John's tournament as well," he added.
"There's exciting talent in all my age groups, cricket is evolving so you just need to let your players express themselves."
He revealed insights within his teams:
"Most of those boys are from very disadvantaged backgrounds and they know that cricket is actually their ticket to something better in life," said Gwatiringa.
As Wise Owl High School basks in the glory of their hard-earned victory, Gwatiringa had a special message for parents guardians.
"Well the results speak for themselves, enroll with us and you will be guaranteed that your child will get some of the best coaching in the country right now."
