adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
EMMANUEL Bako just loves his bike. He has won more than 50 racing competitions since 2012 and continues to impress at major motocross races in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The ambitious athlete is expected to take part in the second round of Womza Championships.
“I am going to be a hero very soon, I love motocross and I was happy to inspire and teach my cousin Munyaradzi,” Emmanuel said.
Emmanuel was born on September 29 in 2006 in Masvingo and is currently a Grade Three pupil at the Heritage School in Borrowdale.
His father, Brighton, saw the interest in his son and bought him an electric bike .
“Emmanuel always loved riding, I remember taking him to my mother’s place where he hit the screen door and she was angry with him and grabbed it from him, telling me that it was a bad idea to buy him a bike at such a young age,” said Brighton.
“But Emmanuel did not stop as he kept on asking for his bike every day.
“I decided to buy him a three-wheel bicycle and he removed the guiders from it.
“He taught himself how to balance and was excellent within a week.”
When he turned four, Emmanuel told his father that he was watching Super-bikes on SuperSport and he wanted him to buy exactly the motorbike he had seen on television.
“He was so excited when I bought him a bike, started riding it and coincidentally my uncle knew people who were doing professional racing at Donnybrook, so I decided to take him there one day.
“I only took him there to race for fun but when he reached Donnybrook I realised that many young people were having racing competitions.
“The other individuals were wearing protective clothing but my son was not and I felt out of place, but it was amazing seeing that he was enjoying himself.
“Emmanuel was just wearing his boots and his helmet but was up for the race. I met a guy called ‘Nandos’.
“I did not know his real name, it’s unfortunate he is now late.
“Nandos said he was going to introduce me to his friend Stanley Mugiyo who said he was interested in the way my son was riding and he wanted to turn him into a professional motocross rider.”
Emmanuel inspired himself to be a professional young racer.
Motocross is not the only sport which he has excelled in.
At his school he is the best junior cricketer and also comes in the top three in swimming.
“Why I think motocross is good for him is that this sport is not too demanding like other sporting disciplines,’ said Brighton.
“He can leave on Fridays for the race in South Africa and come back on Sunday and be at school on Monday. . . I love it.
“I am very happy that the sport does not disturb his school work, as he is good at school and that is the other reason why I will continue to give him all the support as a father.”
Emmanuel has two sponsors — Prolific Borehole Drilling company of Zimbabwe and ZNK investors — which also drills boreholes in South Africa.
Online Reporter