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Langton Nyakwenda
ZAMBIANS admire Zimbabweans, and the feeling is reciprocal
There is also a mutual connection between the citizens of the two countries that are separated by the Zambezi River, which, to most of the locals in Lusaka, has actually failed to divide the two nations, commonly referred to as Siamese twins.
Sporting relations have existed between the countries dating back to the pre-independence era, when the late former Dynamos star Patrick “Amato” Dzvene became the first black Rhodesian to play outside his homeland.
Dzvene joined Zambian side Ndola United in 1964.
A number of Zambian footballers also crossed the Zambezi River into Zimbabwe after the latter’s independence.
The notable names include the late Darryn T and Chipolopolo great Derby Mankinka and the Mhangura duo of Billy and Webster Chikabala.
Laughter Chilembe and Ian Bakala are credited for spurring CAPS United to back-to-back Premier Soccer League championships in 2004 and 2005, while Kelvin Kaindu and Ferdinand Mwachindalo starred for Highlanders and AmaZulu, as did Sandras Kumwenda for Dynamos.
Zimbabwean players such as Ocean Mushure, Partson Jaure, Devon Chafa, Thabani Kamusoko, Tafadzwa Rusike, Takudzwa Chimwemwe and Nqobizitha Masuku have all played in the Zambian top-flight over the years.
Zimbabwe Ambassador to Zambia Charity Charamba summed up the exquisite relations that exist between the two nations.
“Zimbabwe and Zambia are like Siamese twins.
“Even if you see a Zambian and a Zimbabwean, you can’t tell who is Zimbabwean and who is Zambian; we are the same,” she said. Charamba was a special guest at a boxing tournament held at the Government Complex in Lusaka last weekend.
Popular Zimbabwean boxer Charles Manyuchi was part of the bill and took on Donald Kampamba of Zambia in a farewell fight.
“Zambia was his (Manyuchi’s) second home. He enjoyed a lot of love from Zambians here.
“The Zambians are very hospitable. We are one people.”
The ambassador also hosted Manyuchi and his entourage at her residence in Lusaka. Manyuchi, whose talent was discovered in Zimbabwe but perfected in Zambia, has announced his retirement from the sport and has already begun a trilogy of farewell fights.
He is a major beneficiary of the sporting relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It was at Oriental Boxing Promotions in Zambia where Manyuchi was moulded into an international champion.
He won the African Boxing Union, World Boxing Council International and World Boxing Council Silver welterweight titles under Oriental Quarries.
Perhaps that is why he broke down when he hugged his former manager Chris Malunga, moments before his fight against Kampamba.
As he walked towards the ring, Manyuchi went and knelt down before officials from Oriental Quarries, before stepping into the ring, where he hugged Malunga for almost two minutes. “It was an emotional moment, you saw that he broke down,” Malunga told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“Manyuchi is our own. You see, now he is fighting for the last time in our country. This is a boy who occupies a special place in our hearts. Charles is more popular here in Zambia. He is a superstar here more than he is in Zimbabwe.
“I was also touched and I think I need to travel to Zimbabwe, stay there for two weeks and see what he is up to with his academy because he is part of me and I am part of him,” said Malunga.
Manyuchi beat Kampamba via a unanimous decision in an eight-round heavyweight contest that was also the main supporting bout to an ABU championship.
Three other Zimbabwean boxers Brendon Denes, Tatenda Biningu and Clever Sithole also won their non-title fights.
But there was no doubting that much of the focus was on Manyuchi, who took part in his first-ever heavyweight contest, as he wound down a professional career spanning almost 15 years.
Manyuchi was returning to the Government Complex for the first time in over seven years.
His last fight at the famous venue was back in 2016, when he beat Deo Samwell on August 28, a few months after clinching the coveted WBC Silver title in Russia.
It was at the same venue where Manyuchi won the WBC International welterweight title against Patrick Allotey of Ghana on March 15, 2014.
He also defended the title at his favourite “hunting ground’’ against Deivis Casseres of Colombia.
It was also at the same complex where Manyuchi’s boxing skill caught the eye of Oriental Quarries manager Malunga, who then signed the Zimbabwean a month after watching him in the ring.
“I owe my boxing career to Zambia and its people. The Government Complex is an iconic venue to me,” Manyuchi said.
“I won a lot of matches in Lusaka and I forged a strong bond with fans in this city. It’s painful that I am leaving now.
“But, as they say, sometimes a good dancer needs to know when to get off the stage.”
Malunga, who managed Manyuchi to the WBC Silver level, says he has no regrets working with the boxer.
He added: “Manyuchi is a boy whom I believed in the moment I watched him for the first time.” Manyuchi won Malunga’s heart after beating Dyson Mwisa at the complex on October 20, 2012.
He then signed his first contract with Oriental Quarries on his 23rd birthday on November 19, 2012. A few weeks later, he embarked on the 495-kilometre journey from Harare to Lusaka to commence his stint with the Zambians.
“When I first saw Charles, I told myself there was a raw gem that needed to be polished for the benefit of Africa.
“I knew he would be a world champion at a certain point,” revealed Malunga.
“When he came with his father to sign the contract, I told him the first plan was to take him to the ABU championship and he beat Patrice Sue Toke in Burkina Faso in 2013.
“We came back to Lusaka and everybody was excited, both in Zambia and Zimbabwe. One of theirs had made it to the top.” Manyuchi would scale up the ladder to win the WBC International and Silver welterweight titles.
He stunned Dmitry Mikhaylenko of Russia in his own backyard to clinch the WBC Silver on May 6, 2016.
Malunga reckons the fight in Russia was Manyuchi’s best ever.
“That was a big fight and that was in Russia, my friend, not in Masvingo or in Chivhu but in Russia!” boasted Malunga.
“Manyuchi became the WBC Silver champion and that is when he was ranked number three after Floyd Mayweather.”
But something catastrophic happened in Singapore and Manyuchi lost his title against Qudratillo Abduqaxorov on March 25, 2017. “He just needed to defend only once in Singapore and then go for the gold belt. The unfortunate part is he was caught by that punch and he was knocked out in the first round.
“But I have no regrets with a boxer who achieved so much. He did his best, records were broken and he did it also for Southern Africa. “He represented us very well and we will continue working with him.”
Manyuchi has already formed a boxing academy and Malunga has pledged to assist him.
But he has one piece of advice for Manyuchi. “He needs to find the right people to take care of the management side of the academy and he remains on the technical side.”
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Online Reporter