FAITH NDOU
Masvingo – In a season defined by unity, belief and relentless discipline, Southern Rocks Cricket Club have turned ambition into achievement, sealing a historic double triumph powered by the consistency of captain Roy Kaia, his brother Innocent Kaia and Matthew Campbell.
For a province eager to cement its place among Zimbabwe’s cricket powerhouses, the success was not accidental. It was built in dressing rooms, training sessions and long conversations about standards, responsibility and belief.
Southern Rocks achieved its first double last weekend at Masvingo Sports Club when it defeated Mega Market Mountaineers by 8 wickets to win the 2025/26 season Pro50 Championship a week after winning the Logan Cup. The club last won a trophy in the 2020/21season.
Team Manager Tatenda Maponga said the transformation reflects the growth of the province and the clarity of vision set before the season even began.
“It just shows how far we’ve come as a province. Before the start of the season the administration and technical staff gave each other targets and our general manager Emmanuel Dube, was taking nothing short of positions 1 and 2 in all formats,” said Maponga.
But on the field, it was the consistency of three players that became the heartbeat of Southern Rocks’ dominance.
Captain Roy Kaia, leading from the front credited clarity of roles and team structure as key to their success.
“Winning two trophies in one season is an achievement. We set goals before the start of the season and managed to achieve two of the three trophies,” said Kaia.
While leadership anchored the side, it was the opening combination of Innocent Kaia and Matthew Campbell that repeatedly set the tone.
Their partnerships became a familiar sight throughout the season calm starts, controlled aggression and an ability to absorb pressure when it mattered most.
Roy Kaia acknowledged the importance of that foundation.
“Chasing throughout the season was our strength. We have good chasers in the dressing room,” he said.
“Every time we bat, we break it down in 10 overs and assess from there. Chasing 230 was easy for us because our message was simple, one of the four batters must bat through and Innocent did that.”
Innocent Kaia’s composure at the crease and Campbell’s fluency at the top provided Southern Rocks with the stability needed to dominate opposition attacks. Their understanding allowed the rest of the batting line-up to operate with freedom and confidence.
Maponga said the pair’s consistency was central to the team’s structure.
“Our opening pair of Innocent Kaia and Matthew Campbell set the tempo in our run chase and made light work of the opposition attack. They have been giving us 100-plus starts throughout the season,” he said.
Head coach Njabulo Ncube described their role as critical in managing pressure and shaping the team’s identity.
“Matthew Campbell and Innocent Kaia have been vital. They’ve given us strong starts throughout the season and immediately put bowlers under pressure,” said Ncube.
He added that the team’s success was built on discipline and collective belief, particularly in high-pressure moments.
“We created pressure through dot balls and controlled the middle overs. The message in the dressing room was to play high-percentage cricket and keep wickets in hand,” he said.
For Roy Kaia, leadership has been a continuous learning process, one shaped by experience, trust and creating the right environment for players to thrive.
“As a leader you learn every day and adjust. You set goals, communicate them clearly and create an environment where players can express themselves,” he said.
Behind the trophies lies a deeper story of squad depth, healthy competition and a shared hunger for success. But it is the Kaia brothers and Campbell who emerged as the defining figures of the campaign, blending leadership, stability and consistency in a way that carried Southern Rocks to glory.
Maponga believes the journey is far from over.
“Getting to the top is easy, the hardest part is staying there. The work starts now,” he said.
And for Southern Rocks, a new standard has already been set, one built on partnerships, discipline and three names that defined a historic season in Masvingo cricket.
