Strong Body and Even Stronger Mind

The roar of the crowd, the shouts of players, and the rhythmic thud of the basketball erupted into one thunderous cacophony. In the middle of the chaos, Tinashe Muchemwa thrived with precision, he sank another three-point, another victory and he proved once again that he is the king of the court.

At Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), basketball is just one part of Tinashe’s life. As a mechanical engineering student, his days are spent adapting and balancing between the demands of the classroom and his love for the game.

“There is a saying, work hard and play harder. It’s cliche but I try to live by that,” said Tinashe.

Perhaps that adaptation came naturally to him. Born in Chitungwiza, a suburb near Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, Tinashe had never stayed in one place for long. His father’s job as an hotel manager took their family across different African countries. By the time he moved to Indonesia, he had already visited many countries.

“As I was growing up, my parents showed me a lot of things outside our country,” Tinashe recalled. “I believed that there were greater things in exploring, so I decided to take a step and study abroad.”

New Frontier

For Tinashe, choosing UMS was an unexpected discovery. Initially, he wasn’t even certain about studying in Indonesia. While browsing scholarship opportunities, he stumbled on the KNB Scholarship in 2020 during his senior year. He wasn’t too serious about it at first, but one name kept standing out, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta.

“The funny thing is, I struggled to pronounce the university,” he said with a chuckle. “But I kept seeing UMS pop up for days. And then, when I finally looked it up, the first picture I saw was the rectorate building. I thought, ‘Wow, this is so nice.’ That’s when I decided to apply.”

Despite being a devout Christian, Tinashe had no hesitation about studying at an Islamic university. What mattered to him was the quality of education. “I liked that there is a lot of information for the university,” he explained. “And since it offered international classes, I knew I could study in English.”

Now, as an awardee of the International Priority Scholarship (IPS), Tinashe is thriving. Studying mechanical engineering was a natural choice for him. “I’m very keen on airplanes, my dream is to go into aeronautical engineering, I also love Physics and Mathematics. Anything that involves calculations makes me happy. At least I don’t fall asleep while studying it,” he joked.

Tinashe values UMS interdisciplinary approach to engineering, especially its integration of diverse subjects. When he first enrolled, the university had just introduced a new syllabus that incorporated other branches of sciences.

Initially, he hadn’t imagined biology playing a role in engineering, but over time, he came to see its practical benefits. The curriculum encouraged interaction with different faculties, broadening students’ perspectives and enriching their everyday knowledge.

“If you look at it, machinery and organic matter are similar, each consisting of parts that need to function properly to make it move,” said the 23-year-old student.

Among all his lecturers, one stands out for Tinashe, Wijianto, S.T., M.Eng.Sc. “He has been with me since I set foot at UMS, he was the head of the department, my lecturer, and most importantly, my calculus teacher. And since I love math, I think it was a perfect match,” said Tinashe.

On the Court and Beyond

Outside of academics, basketball is at the heart of Tinashe’s life. Growing up in an athletic family, the game was more than just a sport, it was part of his identity.

His sister, a well-respected senior basketball player in Zimbabwe, is his biggest inspiration. “My whole family are athletes, so that’s where my love for basketball started,” said the second of three siblings.

At UMS he has been a regular player at faculty and university level. “We’ve played many games together. Even though we haven’t been very lucky with medals, I enjoy every minute of it.”

A three-time ANFAK champion (a UMS faculty-level basketball competition), Tinashe started joining games outside campus and found his way into Solo’s basketball scene. He played in the IBL 3x3 tournament and was frequently invited to games in Salatiga, Yogyakarta, and Semarang.

Tinashe and his teammates celebrating their ANFAK victory in 2024. private doc.

But stepping onto a new court, in a new country, wasn’t always easy. “The moment I started playing, I could feel everyone watching, not in a bad way, but in a way that said, ‘Who’s this guy?’” a grin formed on his face.

“People here are curious about my style of play because I bring something different,” he said. They were intrigued and invited me to share my knowledge and court skills. I loved the experience.”

Most of the time, Tinashe was the only international player on the court. He had met plenty who loved basketball but hesitated to join local teams. But that never bothered him.

“They (other international students) say, ‘We don’t know anyone, we’re shy.’ I tell them, ‘Come, let’s go together. Don’t worry, I’ll be with you.’ But they hesitate.”

Tinashe understood their hesitation. He had felt it, too, in those first few moments on the court. The uncertainty, the fear of not fitting in. But for him, that uncertainty had always been part of the adventure. “When you love something, the sky's the limit,” said the man who idolizes Jason Tatum.

Tinashe in his element. private doc.

Off the court, Solo has become home for Tinashe. “Living in Solo has been great,” he said. “And having the opportunity to travel to other cities, I feel like Solo is the best. Everything here is very affordable, and that’s important,” he laughed. “And the environment, it’s full of greenery, fresh air, compared to other cities.”

But more than the affordability and the nature, what he loves most about Solo is the peace. “The transportation is not as crowded as Jakarta. It’s safe. I’ve never heard of an international student being robbed. People are just so friendly, kind, and supportive.”

For someone who had spent most of his life moving from one place to another, Solo had become one of the longest places he had ever stayed. There was no need to pack up and leave, no countdown to the next move.

For once, he wasn’t just passing through. Maybe he had found a place to call home. “You know, ever since I got here, I think I've been smiling more than ever,” he shared.

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