Mr. T: A Taste of Home

by Miles Dearing | Ball State Sports Link

Ten years ago, Tinaishe Ndavazocheva was making volleyballs out of anything he could find in his hometown of Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Today, he's one of the most prolific attackers in the United States, earning first team All-MIVA honors and All-American honorable mention last spring.

Since his arrival at Ball State, Ndavazocheva has become one of the most recognizable faces on campus. On the court he's known as "Mr. T," off the court he's just a regular student, eating in the cafeteria like the rest of the student body.

Despite Ndavazocheva's current success, the transition was not without adversity. One of the challenges he faced was being forced to eat food he's just not used to.

Ball State Sports Link, in partnership with Ball State Athletics and Ball State Dining Services, presents "A Taste of Home," an original series produced and hosted by Miles Dearing.

The series focuses on Ball State's international athletes and the foods of their homelands.

In this pilot episode, Ndavazocheva and Chef Shannon Eastes of Ball State Dining reimagine traditional Zimbabwean cuisine. The two recreate the region's common chicken stew, Moribo (thinly sliced pan fried greens) and Sadza (a thick porridge).

"I've been eating this dish since I was 6 years old… I started eating this dish like everyday." Ndavazocheva recalls.

For two and half years, Ndavazocheva has missed the meal his mother has served so often. In this feature, Ndavazocheva recalls memories of Zimbabwe while discussing challenges of being overseas.

"Sometimes I will just go on YouTube and look at the 4K view of our main city. ... That'll just help me out because sometimes I'll feel like I want to cry," Ndavazocheva explains.

With a multi-department collaborative effort, this series transports the audience to the athlete's native land while giving Ndavazocheva a taste of home.

Players Mentioned

Tinaishe Ndavazocheva

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