The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
YOUTHFUL Mutare kick-boxers – who have represented the nation more than twice recently – are shouldering the burden of pursuing a career that demands so much physical and financial input with little or nothing in return.
Adam Chemwanyisa, Simbarashe Mlambo and Kuziva Chitsa were part of the seven-member Team Zimbabwe that participated in the Zim/Malawi contest held in Lilongwe on June 28 where they won their bouts.
Chemwanyisa and Chitsa raised the national flag again early this month on July 3 in yet another regional competition – the MMA Cage Fight contest – where they were part of an eight-member Team Zimbabwe which won five gold and three silver medals.
The two are now looking forward to the Africa Championships to be held in Johannesburg in South Africa from August 26 to 28 where several countries on the continent will be represented.
However, their efforts and talent seem to be getting little recognition as they have to meet the costs of partaking in these regional competitions where prizes are also not always lucrative.
Chemwanyisa (26) said: “We are happy to participate in these competitions and personally I have discovered that I have the talent and what it takes to reach greater heights, but the only factor militating against achieving my dreams is funding.
“We have been meeting the costs of travelling, accommodation and food whenever we take part in these competitions and that is very taxing.
We hope and pray that our efforts will be recognised some day and we will get the necessary support that we desperately need.”
Chitsa, who turns 23 this year and is under the Tough Ninjas stable based at Sakubva Beit Hall under the tutelage of Master Knowledge Nyamhoka, weighed in saying: “I am looking forward to the tournament in South Africa and my wish is to keep winning.
“I have a feeling that I can achieve great things in this sport and all I want is Government and corporate support. This will surely see us taking part in more competitions and also boost our morale.”
