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Langton Nyakwenda
WHETHER or not popular boxer Charles Manyuchi believes in traditional African religion remains a subject of speculation. Still, he once stayed with a traditional healer in Chiredzi.
His tough upbringing, which saw him move from one location to another in search of a proper life, led him to the Lowveld, where he also worked in sugarcane plantations.
It was in Chiredzi where Manyuchi was exposed to some of the rituals performed by the traditional healer almost daily.
Making a revelation on his life in his yet-to-be-published memoir titled “LEARN”, Manyuchi said it was tough living with the traditional healer.
“Things took a turn for the worse when I was sent to live with a traditional healer,” he said.
“I thought it would be a safe haven, but it was a nightmare. I was abused, left and right, and felt like I was all alone.”
Seeing Manyuchi wearing a smiling face today, and exhibiting the exploits of his successful career, one may not believe that at some point, life became so tough for him that he had to survive on sugarcane.
The former WBC Silver welterweight champion penned the memoir with expert assistance from local linguist Tatenda Madenga.
The work is set to be released on May 31.
Inside the ring, Manyuchi, who is retiring from boxing, was a fierce and tough boxer, who was never intimidated or overawed, whatever the magnitude of the fight.
But outside the squared circle, a lot happened in his life, most of it away from public glare.
The memoir will reveal that he was unlucky in love, while he had to deal with bitterness and betrayal.
His dysfunctional love life is laid bare in a chapter titled “Bitterness of a Father”, where Manyuchi talks about his broken-down marriage and from there on, his lack of trust in women.
The boxer allows his followers to dissect his private life in the memoir, whose excerpts were shown to The Sunday Mail Sport recently.
“There are some things that people don’t know about Charles Manyuchi, which are revealed in this biography,” the former World Boxing Council Silver welterweight champion said.
“Most of the issues in this book are exclusive; people will get to read about them for the first time.”
Manyuchi’s episode of life in Chiredzi explodes in a chapter titled “From Sugarcane to Success”, which also chronicles how this harsh life moulded him into a tough boxer that he later became.
After dominating at the National Youth Games, Manyuchi would later on relocate to Masvingo after he was taken aboard by Eddison Zvobgo Jr.
He turned professional in 2009, before embarking on a remarkable boxing journey that took him places.
Manyuchi fought in Zambia, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Italy, Russia and Singapore, among other countries.
Along the way, he accumulated some wealth.
He also ventured into different businesses, including livestock breeding and transport.
In the chapter titled “Lonely Tycoon”, Manyuchi reveals how some people close to him deceived him, highlighting some of the challenges he faced while trying to accumulate wealth.
Manyuchi also reveals in the memoir a story about a business partner who betrayed him, forcing him to start from scratch.
Other interesting chapters in the memoir include “Guardian Angel”, which is a tribute to a mentor who helped him when the chips were down.
“I want people to know more about Charles Manyuchi and not to judge a person without knowledge,” says Manyuchi.
“There are some things that I have never said that you will find in this memoir.
“I have a lot of people who helped me in my boxing journey and I have to acknowledge that.
“Life is tricky; one day you are up and the next day you are down. I have experienced all this in my life and I want to thank God for who I am today.”
The 34-year-old boxer is winding down his career after announcing plans to retire last year.
He has already staged goodbye fights in Chivhu, Harare and Lusaka.
In retirement, Manyuchi plans to devote more of his time to developing budding boxers at his Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy.
Online Reporter