Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
VITALIS Chikoko didn’t just chase a basketball dream, he walked four kilometres for it, twice broke his right arm, and still refused to give up. From humble beginnings in Kuwadzana and Glen View to the bright lights of Europe’s top leagues, Zimbabwe’s basketball captain bulldozed through every obstacle thrown his way.
The Zimbabwe national team captain has spent the last 15 years competing in elite European leagues, showcasing his talent in Germany, Italy and now France, where he collected numerous individual and team accolades.
At 2.06 metres tall, the towering forward is widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest basketball exports. But none of it came easy.
Growing up in the high-density suburbs of Kuwadzana and later Glen View, Chikoko’s early life was far from comfortable. Yet, he found a sense of purpose through basketball.
“We didn’t have proper basketball courts like the ones here,” Chikoko said, addressing students at Maranatha Christian High School in Harare, where he officially opened a new state-of-the-art multi-purpose court.
“So we would walk for something like 4km to access decent courts. I played basketball and soccer at the same time when I was growing up, but basketball was always my number one sport.
“I had injuries when I was growing up. When I was in high school, I broke my right arm twice, but I never gave up.”
After finishing high school, Chikoko faced a major crossroads: pursue further education or commit fully to basketball.
That dilemma eventually took him to South Africa, where a coach tried to secure him a scholarship in the United States. But delays in visa processing threatened to stall his progress.
“So I went to South Africa as one of my coaches wanted to try and get a scholarship for me in the United States,” he said. “I was there for, like, two months, playing the game and trying to get some visas, but it was taking too long.”
Meanwhile, an opportunity opened up in Germany, thanks to a recommendation from a former coach. Chikoko didn’t hesitate.
“Back home, I was recommended to one of the teams in Germany. The visa was about to come out and I didn’t want to risk anything as Germany was calling,” he said.
“With the support of my family, I came back to Zimbabwe, and I went to Germany for trials. Since then, everything has been going on pretty well for me. I played in Germany and Italy, and now I’m in my eighth year in France.”
Chikoko credits basketball with not only shaping his career but also keeping him grounded.
“Everything is possible. Basketball is something that I can say saved my life. I know some of my friends who I grew up with do drugs, but basketball helped me stay focused.
“So what I can tell these kids is that they should not give up. It doesn’t matter where they come from. Keep on working, keep on doing better. Everything is possible.”
Maranatha Christian High School headmaster Evermore Chakwizira said the school is committed to nurturing complete student-athletes, not just academic achievers.
“Our track record in academics is well documented. We will continue to strive for excellence in this field,” said Chakwizira.
“However, we’ve also decided to invest seriously in sports development. It’s at this stage that athletes need to be nurtured and guided toward a professional path.
“The construction of these multi-purpose courts is just the beginning of our broader plan to give kids access to modern facilities where they can grow their talents across different sports.
“We’re also expanding into swimming, football, and rugby. I’m happy our students have had the chance to meet and learn from someone like Vitalis Chikoko, who started with so little and made it to the top.”
