Mashaya ends year on a high

Tinashe Kusema

THE short walk to the podium can be both the most nerve-racking and delightful experience for any sportsperson.

Renowned Zimbabwean martial arts expert Wilfred Mashaya is one sportsperson who still finds that walk to be both a daunting and rewarding experience.

This is despite the fact that the 41-year-old is regarded as one of the foremost Kobudo specialists, and possesses a cabinet brimming with medals.

He has made that walk countless times.

“Yes, I have won many competitions and walked to countless medal podiums, but it never gets easier,” said Mashaya.

“Each and every tournament is different and should be treated as such.”

He added: “I still feel the same pride as the first time I won a medal, especially during the regional and international tournaments in which I will be an ambassador of sorts for my country. Standing there on the podium is validation of all the blood, sweat and tears that will have gone into preparations for each tournament.”

Mashaya was at it again last week, as the former Kobudo world champion came back with four medals — two gold and two silver — from the Welsh Open.

The competition had some of the world’s best weapons experts, with countries like England, Nepal, Spain, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, India and hosts Wales all represented.

Held at the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre in South Wales, the competitors slugged it out in eight categories, namely points fighting, continuous fighting, low kicks, traditional forms, creative forms, freestyle forms, extreme forms and weapon forms.

Mashaya came back with gold in the traditional weapons and freestyle weapons categories, while earning silver medals in the creative weapons and extreme weapons categories, to make it four walks to the podium.

“The trip to Wales was very challenging as you come up against so many great fighters and weapons experts from all over the world,” he said.

“It was a very competitive field, with some of them, including one of my biggest rivals, a sixth dan black belt. I had to rely on my experience, bank on all the hard work that I had put in and hope for the best.

“During the preparations, we faced many challenges, with the main one being sourcing funds. Luckily, a couple of well-wishers chipped in.”

Returning home with four medals ended up being rather bittersweet.

Prior to the trip to Wales, the year 2024 had not been good for both Mashaya and his Zim Ninja Academy. Crippling financial constraints saw both Mashaya and his students having a rather subdued calendar during the first half of the year.

The 41-year-old even missed out on defending his world title at the World Championship in Germany early this year.

Mashaya had planned to give a couple of his students some much-needed exposure at the annual event.

“The year 2024 started on a low note, as we faced some challenges and failed to attend and host a couple of tournaments we had targeted,” he said.

“Top of the list of missed tournaments was the World Championships, and the initial plan there was to go to Germany with a full team of boys and girls and some of the older male and female fighters.

“Sadly, it was not to be, as a combination of lack of sponsorship and some visa issues saw us miss out. It was heartbreaking.”

Luckily, things did pick up and this allowed Mashaya to end the year on a high.

Now, he looks forward to the new year with added optimism.

“As long as I still have the energy to walk onto the tatami (soft textured mat used for training and competition), you will continue to see me compete,” Mashaya said boldly, quashing any rumours of retirement.

“There is no time frame on my years competing, so long as I still have the energy and desire. As for the new year, we already have various competitions lined up for both me and my students at the Zim Ninja Academy.

“We have events in Poland, Columbia, Malta, England and Wales again, India, Japan and Bangladesh. Ideally, I would love to attend them all, funds permitting, and I would love to take a full team with me.

“Sponsorship remains the biggest stumbling block but, fortunately, a few well-wishers have since started to come through. We will have to just wait and see.”