A Zimbabwean international cricketer welcomed to a Border club with much fanfare has been slammed by a magistrate for drinking too much alcohol in front of junior players.
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Tarisai Kenneth Musakanda told Albury Local Court he was "just standing to the side, having a drink" as children gathered around a Santa brought in for the New City club's Christmas party.
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But magistrate Richard Funston was gobsmacked by Musakanda's behaviour, which had him charged with mid-range drink-driving after he got into a car to head home.
"You knew exactly what you were doing," Mr Funston told him.
"You were a role model."
Musakanda remained upbeat during his brief appearance in court this week, assuring Mr Funston he had done what he could to avoid going over the limit.
He explained someone had told him how many drinks he would be able to have without breaking the law should he want to drive home afterwards.
Mr Funston quickly got to the point, telling Musakanda that his reading was 0.098.
"It's nearly twice the legal limit," he said.
"Mid-range is a serious matter. You can get jail of up to nine months."
The court was told that Musakanda, of Cogdell Street, Lavington, was arrested on the afternoon of December 15 after he provided a positive result to a preliminary breath test.
He was then taken to Albury police station for a further test, which produced the 0.098 reading.
Musakanda, who told Mr Funston he had another three months left playing with New City in Cricket Albury-Wodonga's Provincial competition, had his driver's licence disqualified for three months and was convicted and fined $600.
He must have an interlock device fitted to his car for 12 months at the end of his disqualification period.
Musakanda, 24, has represented his country on 21 occasions.
"We've got a lot of junior guys which is really good and it's all about me sharing information," he said.
