adminCaroline Magenga Sports Reporter
SEVEN talented Zimbabwean junior motocross riders are set to be the beneficiaries of a sponsorship package that will see them training and racing in Germany next year. The seven riders — Daiyaan Manuel, Kuda Mhene (Jnr), Big “BJ” Chitima (Jnr), Ryan Masimo, Davin Cocker, Ricky Whyte and Lee Chigumba (Jnr) — were hand-picked by German-based sports foundation GeBe Education and Sports Foundation after impressing with their exceptional motorcycling riding skills on the track this year.
The invitation will cover their racing and further training for free at a club of their choice from the three available next year in April.
The GeBe Foundation is a non-profit organisation from Germany who partner with other organisations to support education, sport, culture and social development in disadvantaged communities.
They also facilitate tours, events, education and sports development programmes meant to enhance, empower and assist in youth development.
As part of the package the young Zimbabwean racers will enjoy free residence in Germany and free lessons with professional instructors while arrangements for affordable accommodation, meals and transport will be availed to the travelling parents and team officials.
The young daredevils will also get expert advice from top German motocross trainers working under AMC Zirndorf motorsport club in Bavaria.
The riders will be spoilt for choice between AMC Zirndorf Motorsport Club located in South Germany, Motorsport Club Kiedrowski Racing which is north of Hamburg, and MSC Motorsport Club Ruegen in island of Ruegen north of Berlin.
Parents of the riders recently expressed their excitement over this opportunity and said it lifted a lot of their burdens.
Kuda Mhene (Snr) said that he was overwhelmed because of the timely intervention by the GeBe Foundation.
“We are still very excited about the whole thing, we never expected it and we are just very happy about it.
“This opportunity means the boys are going to be in the limelight and they will get a chance to race against some top riders in Europe so I think it’s a really big thing not just for the boys but for us as well.
“You would find that the majority of costs for them to ride, we meet them as the parents so this is quite a relief for us that their stay there will be free and so will be the training, so we are just so happy and excited and we feel that is how sport should be
“It should be that sponsors come in to meet us half way so that we can nurture together our children’s talent,” said Mhene (Snr). Yasmin Manuel, Daiyaan’s mother, also echoed the same sentiments, saying the foundation had provided a fantastic opportunity for her kid.
“This is a fantastic opening for him and the other young riders, this experience would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an eye-opener for the kids as they get to see the sport on a whole new level that is the professional side.
“As parents we always want the best for our children and we believe that this journey will be a right step towards achieving their dreams as it will provide training and experiences that we would not be able to give.
“We extend our thanks to the Zimbabwean organisers, the GeBe Foundation and the motocross clubs in Germany for giving Daiyaan and the other riders this amazing opportunity,” said Yasmin.
Big “Bigs” Chitima (Snr) said they were now going to seek clearance from the Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation and the Bogwheelers Club, who run motocross in this country, which will allow them to send the seven young riders to Germany in April next year. The riders, who are currently preparing for the Zimbabwe Summer Series which is set to be held on December 10, 12 and 14 at Donnybrook in Harare, are likely going to be enrolled at the same club for the duration of their stay in Germany.
Bernd Wulffen, the director of the GeBe Foundation, said the seven young Zimbabwean riders were most likely to be attached to MSC Ruegen.
MSC Ruegen are based at a beautiful island in the north east of Germany.
“Everything will be provided for free for the riders and this includes bikes, food and accommodation during their stay in Germany, and their parents only need to raise the airfares and pay licence fees of 230 euros for each rider as required by the German motocross clubs,” Wulffen said.
The GeBe Foundation have also engaged the Zimbabwe Handball Federation for a similar exercise which will see Zimbabwean players and officials going to Germany for further training and attachments with different clubs there.
Mashrhino, a junior handball select side from Mashonaland West, will be among the first beneficiaries of this development “project” between the GeBe Foundation and the ZHF, as they (Mashrhino) have already been invited by the foundation to tour Germany in April next year.
This came after the Mashonaland West Handball Association successfully managed to send the Mashrhino teams to the past three editions of the Partille Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
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