Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda recently in TRIANGLE
THERE is a Mufakose that everyone in Harare knows; a gritty high-density suburb with a fearsome reputation and a proud sporting legacy.
Far from the capital’s bustle, nestled in the heart of Triangle’s sugar estates, lies another Mufakose, one less known, but equally rich in untold sporting stories.
And it is from this quiet corner of the Lowveld that Africa’s newest boxing champion, Tinashe “Mr Jones” Majoni, emerged.
Harare’s well-known suburb of Mufakose is not only associated with crime, it is also a hub of sporting talent.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s poster boy, Khama Billiat, hails from Mufakose, the same suburb that produced hundreds of sporting personalities, including former Dynamos skipper Memory Mucherahowa. The late former CAPS United stars Joel Shambo and Stanley Ndunduma were raised on the streets of Mufakose.
From tennis stars Martin Dzuwa and Peter Nyamande to bodybuilding legends Innocent Choga and George Takundwa, Mufakose has over the years churned out sporting icons.
But there is another Mufakose, far from Harare, that has also been silently producing stars across various disciplines.
Located in Triangle, Mufakose is where World Boxing Federation (WBF) Super Flyweight champion Majoni was raised.
In fact, the Lowveld town is not only famous for sugarcane production, it also provided the launch pad for several sports personalities, including former World Boxing Council Silver welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi.
Triangle is the only place in Zimbabwe with a standard boxing stadium — the Gibbo Boxing Arena.
Naturally, boxing thrives here.
It is no coincidence that many of the fighters who have helped Masvingo province dominate the National Youth Games over the years hail from Triangle.
Local sugar firm Tongaat Hulett has a longstanding policy of supporting sport, and they have done so by sponsoring Premier Soccer League side Triangle United.
The company also plays a crucial role in developing sport in local schools, including Mufakose High.
Majoni, who captured the WBF Super Flyweight Africa title on March 25, is a proud product of that sporting ecosystem.
The 26-year-old pugilist clinched the belt via TKO against Aubrey Masamba of Malawi at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare.
With just one defeat in 12 fights, Majoni is now set to defend his title in Harare on August 30.
The soft-spoken and humble boxer retraced his roots last week when he visited his former school, Mufakose High, in Triangle.
Schoolchildren were visibly inspired after learning about Majoni’s journey, and left in awe when he showcased his sharp reflexes in a brief sparring session with his trainer Ali “Otto” Phiri.
Majoni attended Mufakose High School from 2012 up to 2015.
“It all started here,” he said, emotionally. “I discovered my passion for boxing here at Mufakose High. I achieved a lot at amateur level at this school, so I value this place a lot.”
Raised in a poor background, Majoni found his salvation in boxing, and turned into a national treasure.
He is now Zimbabwe’s latest international boxing champion.
“We are many here at school and we come from different backgrounds,” said Majoni. “Some are not academically gifted, and some are also good at school. But, if you have anything that you feel you are good at, give it your all. If you are good academically, invest all your energy. If you are good at sports, do it wholeheartedly.
“I had a poor background, but I had some teachers here whom I confided in. Do not let your poor background take away your confidence. We are all human beings; it doesn’t matter whether you’re from rural or remote areas. We didn’t have enough boxing equipment, but through sheer determination, I would go on and beat boxers from Harare and other urban centres.”
Mufakose High School head Severino Bvunyenge described Majoni as a true ambassador of Triangle.
“He has made us proud,” said Bvunyenge, who also serves as Masvingo Boxing Federation secretary-general. “Majoni is a good example of how one can transform his life through sport. Imagine, a boy from Mufakose High is now an African champion! He is the best in his weight category across Africa, and it all started at this school.”
Yet Majoni’s path to boxing stardom was not always smooth.
His father, Lovemore Majoni, was initially opposed to the idea of his son becoming a boxer, fearing for his safety.
“He would do the sport clandestinely, but the secret was blown away when he won a tournament in Bulawayo,” he said.
He added: “I had to sign an indemnity form because he was now supposed to go to Angola. That’s when I started realising the boy was really into this sport. I learned something from that episode. If a child has talent, parents should offer maximum support. I was against this boxing idea, but look now, Tinashe is a champion and he’s travelling places because of the sport.
“He can also now take care of himself through boxing.”
Majoni’s mother, Beatrice, a devout Christian, was also reluctant to let him become a pugilist.
“We are Christians, so fighting and our religion do not go hand in hand,” she said. “But later on, we started realising he really had a passion for the sport. When we were told by school officials that the boy needed to sort out his passport for an international trip, his father started warming up.”
She added: “Tinashe was always a quiet boy, he has an innocent face, and we used to say, ‘how can you fight when you’re this
soft?’
“He never engaged in street fights, and boxing actually instilled more discipline in him.”
Zimbabwe Boxing Federation president Festus Dumbu, who works as a sports officer at Tongaat Hulett, outlined Triangle’s deep boxing roots.
“Majoni’s story is inspirational. He is an inspiration to other youths because they can now see the broader trajectory of talent development,” he said.
Trophies and shields greet visitors to Dumbu’s office, most of them earned by local boxing champions.
“Triangle is basically a boxing community,” he said. “It’s the only community in Zimbabwe with a standard boxing stadium — the Gibbo Boxing Arena. So, it’s not by coincidence that we have elite boxers from this community. We have a boxing development culture which we have continued to maintain.
“We’ve sustained it, and to date, boxing is now in our culture. It’s not surprising to have Majoni joining the likes of Charles Manyuchi and Freeman Mabvongwe, boxers nurtured right here.
“Talent knows no geography. It can come from anywhere, and we are proud as the people of Triangle.”
Online Reporter