BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – A national team coach will most likely get recognised by fellow passengers on a flight, and asked for a selfie.
It is a pretty unique experience, though, when the attention comes from the pilot herself.
Emirates pilot Merna Cremer was so delighted when she was alerted by flight attendances on Tuesday that a member of the Zimbabwe rugby team she was flying from Dubai to Harare was a relative.
Piet Benade – the 42-year-old head coach of the national rugby side – is first cousins with former Zimbabwe cricket captain Graeme Cremer, who is married to Merna.
The Sables were transiting through Dubai from South Korea, where they edged the hosts 27-22 last weekend on the last leg of their end-of-year tour of the Middle East and Asia.
Merna posted a picture on social media with Benade in the aircraft, both smiling heartily. She wrote: “The cabin crew tell me ‘your cousin is on board!’ What a wonderful surprise and so proud to fly the Zim Rugby team!”
A former pilot with Air Zimbabwe back home, Merna (née Moore) is a keen sportsperson herself. She won several accolades in fitness and bodybuilding in Zimbabwe, going on the represent the country in competitions abroad.
Her husband Graeme, son of Benade’s uncle, was a leg-spin bowler of note during his cricket career. Cremer captained Zimbabwe’s cricket team between May 2016 and March 2018.
He now lives in Dubai with Merna and their two young sons.
Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Graeme Cremer (right) and cousin Ruth Benade cheer on the Sables against UAE in Dubai on 5 November.
Cremer was at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on 5 November to support the Sables as they cruised to an easy 62-22 win over the United Arab Emirates in the first of their two Tests on tour.
The 38-year-old ex-Chevrons skipper was with cousin and the Sables coach’s sister, Ruth Benade, who played for the Zimbabwe women’s rugby team in both 15s and Sevens.
