The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro,Sports Correspondent
FORMER Mutare Sports Club and Zimbabwe Sables star Martin Mangongo started off as a cricketer in 2004 and raked up a record of more than 288 games during his glittering career.
He was one of the notable performers during the 2015 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa before turning his attention to rugby where he broke into the Sables team in June this year making five appearances.
Two weeks ago he made his first appearance for the Cheetahs during the Olympic qualifiers in South Africa.
He made his name in cricket, and now Mangongo has shown he also has a bagful of rugby skills.
At the tender age of six, his father, Gibson, discovered there was something special in his cricket skills and believed that he could one day become a professional cricketer.
Mangongo started playing cricket in 2004 while at Baring Primary School.
“My dad encouraged me to take up cricket at the age of six. I remember I had a toy made out of wood as a cricket bat,” he said.
Despite his small stature, he showed a lot of talent, which impressed onlookers and drew the attention of national Under-19 coaches Gregory Lamb and Prosper Utseya.
He moved from Baring Primary School to Hillcrest Primary School for his Grade Five.
Hillcrest is where he was introduced to rugby.
“From Baring Primary School, I moved to Hillcrest Primary School where I started playing rugby. I continued with both cricket and rugby. From there I went to St George’s College for Form 1 to Form 4. I then moved to Peterhouse for my ‘A’ Level,” he said.
Mangongo, who draws his inspiration from his late brother, Anesu, said he decided to switch from cricket to rugby.
“Rugby was largely inspired by my late brother, Anesu. I have always been a sporty person back from when I represented Zimbabwe at the Under-19 cricket World Cup and Zimbabwe Under-16 hockey. From there, I had to make a choice between rugby and cricket. My heart was happy on the rugby park. I made a decision at 19 to pack it in and play rugby,” he said.
Mangongo is currently plying his trade in Poland at a club called SKRA in the Super 1 National League.
Despite his stellar achievements, Mangongo remains humble and has attributed his success to the support and encouragement of his family.
“My family play a big role that motivates me day by day to keep improving and be a better player. They are my biggest supporters, they have been with me all the way,” he said.
It doesn’t take long to notice Martin Mangongo on the rugby field.
His skills and speed with and without the ball makes him stand out from most players.
At 21, he is already one of the most dangerous players in the Polish league, one who forces opponents to pay extra attention to where he is on the field.
Mangongo said he is chasing a dream to play at the World Cup in 2023 for the Sables.
He said his best game was when he made his debut for the Sables in June this year.
“My best game so far was in June when I made my debut in the Sables-Zambia match. I scored my first try in front of the home crowd. I was very happy. My worst game was in Poland. I remember it was my first game. It was very cold and snowing. The temperature was at three degrees Celcius and catching the ball was a nightmare,” he said.
The talented player has played 20 games for his club and said language has been a barrier but he is settling well. He said size has also affected him in Poland.
“Size is a factor, it is a physical sport, size matters but I have managed to be much stronger and powerful. And with speed and quality skills I am an effective player. The players here are bigger and stronger. European rugby is straight forward physical and hard but much slower,” he said.
What makes Mangongo’s talents all the more impressive is that he’s merely a freshman at Warsaw University where he is studying International Business Management.
His daily schedule begins with gym at 8am.
“After gym I go for my studies at the university until 3pm. I attend my training sessions from 6pm to 8pm then I do my assignments until 10pm,” he said.
When he is free, Mangongo usually studies and rests. And at times he attends music concerts.
He said his plan is to get his degree before taking up rugby full-time.
“My plans include getting my degree by 2021, then go professional with my rugby using the opportunity to set up my own business platform for retirement,” he said.
His advice to fellow young sportspersons is: “Nothing comes easy to mankind, take no shortcuts and work hard, train hard and enjoy what you do. Above all, believe in yourself and have faith in God.”
