‘Pretty cool’: Zimbabwe rugby captain Mudariki comments on new bond with football star Billiat
- vimbayi makwavarara
- May 5
- 3 min read
BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Khama Billiat and Hilton Mudariki hail from opposing ends of Harare, but the ability of sport to bring people together, and a mutually shared respect for each other’s God-given talents, has quickly created a special bond between the two sports stars.
Zimbabwean football pin-up boy Billiat (34) and Rugby Africa Cup-winning captain Mudariki (33) first met in person in February when they turned up to cheer on Zimbabwe’s tennis team during its Davis Cup World Group II match against Morocco at Harare Sports Club.
Last Thursday, Zimbabwe rugby captain Mudariki took a step further by going to support his new mate when Billiat’s Scottland FC beat Herentials 1-0 in a top-flight league match at Rufaro Stadium in the capital city.
The two exchanged shirts, Billiat presenting Mudariki with his Scottland jersey while the Sables skipper and scrumhalf handed over Zimbabwe’s famous green-and-white striped rugby top.
“After we met at the tennis we, you know, had great conversations about how we can support each other as Zimbabwean sportsmen and women,” Mudariki told SportsCast on Sunday.
“It’s just coming together and supporting each other, obviously being in the same field of sport. We just thought that it’s something we must definitely do. Khama is a great person, a great player. We know what he has done, so going out to support him in their game on Thursday was pretty cool and I know that he’s super-excited to come and watch the Sables in action. Obviously, I’ve known Khama just through the amazing things he’s done. But on a personal level, we met at the tennis, had great conversations and that’s where the relationship kind of started.”
Mudariki was himself an all-round sportsman in his schooldays at Heritage Primary and St John’s Prep in Harare, his hometown, and later at the prestigious Michaelhouse College in KwaZulu-Natal.
A handy schoolboy cricketer in his younger days, Mudariki has also often been seen in the crowd supporting Zimbabwe’s cricket team during international games in Harare.
“I’m a sportsperson, I love my sports,” he remarked.
Mudariki will lead Zimbabwe in defence of their Africa Cup title in Uganda in July. If the Sables manage to be crowned back-to-back champions in Kampala, they will qualify for their first World Cup in over three decades.
As for the footballers, Zimbabwe sealed qualification for December’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco and attacking midfielder Billiat will be one of the star players expected to steer the Warriors to their target of a first knockout stage appearance in the side’s tournament history.
Meanwhile, away from rugby, Mudariki is spending his time developing his drills through playing other sports, such as tennis. He also watches a lot of the other codes as well, drawing inspiration and picking up a few common stuff.
“I love watching football and watching what’s happening in Zimbabwean football at the moment is super-awesome,” Mudariki said.
“To go out there (to Rufaro Stadium) in a different environment, different sport, to support our stars, it’s super-important for me. As I said, I’ve been a big advocate for sportsmen and women supporting each, so that was the inspiration behind that. I’m getting to know a little bit more about Zimbabwean football, some great things are being done there. Some of the players that I really enjoy watching are the Musona brothers, Knowledge and Walter, as well as Khama obviously, players that are making a huge difference in sport in Zimbabwe.”
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