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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
USUALLY a new year means new goals and targets for most people, athletes included, as they embark on new endeavours in their sporting careers and in other areas of their lives.
Some of the athletes have set new targets while others seek to continue building on what they achieved in the past year.
Upcoming show-jumper Amy Hay is looking forward to taking her game to another level this year after a successful 2021 and sharing her experiences with other young riders.
The 17-year-old became the first Zimbabwean show-jumper to win a gold medal in the South African Youth Grand Prix Championships.
“My resolutions for 2022 include taking everything up to the next level.
“I am planning on riding at a higher level in South Africa and hopefully Europe. So I will need to work more hours on my horses, making sure that they are fit, and that we are in sync, that they understand exactly what I want from them, and to work on any weaknesses.
“I will also need to work on my personal fitness and diet, ensuring that I remain sharp and focused, especially prior to major events.
“The South African showjumping calendar is quite full this year, and it is important for me to ride in as many competitions as possible, against a very competitive field. This will push me harder to do better.
“I would also like to consistently work with my new horse, Goedzo, at 1.35m and to get her jumping competitively and with confidence at 1.40m, as the top level I hope to achieve in South Africa is 1.50m height.
“I would like to do my country proud and inspire the young and upcoming riders where I can, by spending time with them when I am at home, and sharing my passion about the sport,” said Hay.
Martial artist Wilfred Mashaya has won a number of international events in the past and the introduction of online competition in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic ensured he kept on competing.
He wants to carry the momentum into 2022 and also grow his Zim Ninja Academy.
“I want to continue with the winning streak from me and my Academy students as we continue raising our country’s flag high in the upcoming 2022 tournaments.
“I want to groom more champions from Zimbabwe in the martial arts disciplines I specialise on, that is karate, ninjutsu and kobudo (weapons).
“I also want to act one or more action packed films and add on to my acting CV. I started the journey last year and two movies have been acted so far and extending my martial arts expertise into this film industry.
“I want to share my self-defence skills voluntarily to the most vulnerable in our society, including women and the girl child, in particular, who usually face most dangers of attacks from robbers and rapists.
“Lastly, I want to make Zim Ninja Academy a martial arts centre of excellence in Zimbabwe and beyond.”
Mighty Warriors skipper Emmaculate Msipa said she is grateful for how things turned out for her in the last year and as the year begins, her target is to become one of the best female football players on the continent.
She is currently based in Turkey.
“I am really grateful and happy that I am already playing abroad.
“Being among the best players in Africa that’s my goal and my aim right now. So, I will keep striving and focused so that I become one of the best players in Africa. I will just keep working hard.
“I will just keep focused because I want to experience different styles of football. I want to go to France, I want to go to England, so I will keep on working hard. That’s my resolution,” said Msipa.
After leading her side to their first league title when they won the Premier Netball League, Platinum Queens captain, Nomagugu Makhalima, wants to improve herself.
“My resolution is to be a better player, continue having a teachable spirit, and be humble in every different leadership (role) that will come my way.
“And in all times good or bad, my soul has to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus, because he is the author of every chapter in my netball career. Starting with Him and make sure I finish with Him,” said Makhalima.
Sprinter Ngoni Makusha is aiming to qualify for the World Championships that are scheduled for July in Oregon, United States, and winning a medal at the African Championships.
“I want to qualify for the World Championships. Am looking at getting a medal at the African Senior Championships, running personal bests in both 100m and 200m and I am also hoping to get an endorsement deal,” said Makusha.
Gems captain, Felisitus Kwangwa, is heading back to the United Kingdom after Vitality Netball Superleague club Surrey Storm re-signed her for the 2022 season.
Kwangwa said she wants to help Surrey Storm win the title and the national team to qualify for the 2023 World Championships.
“I would say obviously first and foremost to be the Vitality Superleague champions and then for our 2022 calendar we have the World Cup Qualifiers. So we have to fight for a slot again for the 2023 World Cup in Cape Town.
“That’s what I am aiming for this upcoming season,” said Kwangwa.
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