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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
TATENDA Mashingaidze is already used to celebrity life.
He has made a name for himself as a professional security aide to one of Zimbabwe’s most prolific musicians Mukudzei Mukombe, who is popularly as Jah Prayzah.
But he believes he is still far from reaching his full potential.
He has realised the country is far short of sufficient heavyweight boxers.
He wants to step in and win titles.
At the age of 33, Mashingaidze wants to venture into the sport and has already thrown his name to promoters so that he can be considered for the next bill.
He has been training under coach Simon Sankulani.
The latter is also the one who identified and nurtured Philip “Mad Cobra” Musariri.
He is Monalisa “Queen of the Jungle” Sibanda’s coach as well.
“I have realised that I am gifted in fighting and I also realised there is a gap in the heavyweight championship in Zimbabwe.
“So I have decided to venture into the sport.
“I have been perfecting and conditioning over the past months under coach Sankulani.
“I intend to get my first bout in the amateur ranks in the not-so-distant future,” said Mashingaidze.
“The idea is to turn professional as soon as next year. I know the likes of Mike Tyson and even our own Derrick Chisora didn’t start as boxers.
“They were seen somewhere doing their thing and they were then nurtured into exceptional fighters.
“It is in the same spirit that I was also identified by coach Sankulani who has also identified a lot of other local boxers.
“I am passionate about this sport and I am sure I am going to make a huge impact.
“I know there are a lot of good boxers in Zimbabwe, but they are fighting in other weight categories.
“So I think we should also step in and see to it that the heavyweight category gets representation.
“I am committed and ready to rumble in the professional ranks but first things first, I will have to take a couple of fights in the amateur ranks then take it from there.”
Trainer Sankulani said Mashingaidze has the potential to win accolades for the country. “I have known him (Mashingaidze) for a long time. He has the potential to make a huge impact in the sport of boxing. So one day we talked and we agreed that he starts boxing lessons. He is ready for amateur fights now,” said Sankulani. “He might be 33 years old now but in this sport, no time is too late to start.”
Online Reporter