Mavhera honoured in US

FORMER Bulawayo Bottlers Athletics Club chairman Roy Phiri has hailed Gray Mavhera who was last week inducted into the California Baptist University Athletics Hall of Fame in the United States of America.

Phiri, who was in charge of the athletics team at the soft drinks bottling unit in Bulawayo and also secretary and chairman of the Matabeleland North Athletics Board at Mavhera’s peak, here in Zimbabwe, expressed his pride in Mavhera’s feat.

“I am proud to celebrate the remarkable life and achievements of Grey ‘Mavuthuza’ Mavhera, a dedicated and passionate athlete who joined our club Bulawayo Bottlers in 1989.

“Mavhera’s unwavering commitment to training and his unrelenting spirit earned him a special place among his teammates. As a testament to his determination, he never missed a training session, always pushing himself to be better,” said Phiri.

Phiri recalled how Mavhera had in his earlier days turned up for roadrunning training putting on football boots.

“One moment I remember about Mavhera is that on his first day, he ran barefooted, only to return the next day wearing soccer boots after seeing his fellow athletes in running shoes. This showed his determination in the sport to succeed,” said Phiri.

Phiri said Mavhera was an integral part of the renowned “Izidlamgwaqo” team, which dominated road races and cross-country events.

Bigboy Moyo, Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Herman Mnape, Abednico Ngwenya, Alphas Ndlovu, Photo Ndlela,

Stephen Mavhera, Victor Ndlovu, Mufandaedza Shumba and Mandla Nkosi made up the Bulawayo Bottlers team.

“As people that worked with Mavhera, we are proud of his contribution to the world of athletics and remembers his incredible spirit, perseverance and passion for the sport,” said Phiri.

Mavhera left for the US in 1993 on an academic and athletics scholarship at the age of 20 and would rise to one of the best athletes to run for California Baptist University.

He holds the Zimbabwe indoor 5000m record of 14 minutes 16.58 seconds and is the only man to have run the Coke Four Minute Mile Challenge under the barrier with a time of 3 minutes 58 seconds in in 1992.

With this acknowledgement, his name, integrity and legacy will be entrenched forever as having been one of the greatest athletes to emerge from the college.

“We couldn’t be more proud of him and the amount of work and effort he has put into excelling not only as an athlete but as a God-driven family oriented man. From barefoot in Zimbabwe to the California Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame, congratulations,” reads a citation from California Baptist University.

In his era Mavhera achieved the following for the institution:

3 NAIA Championships

1996 3000m 5000m NAIA Indoor Champion (both 99)

1996 5000m NAIA Outdoor Champion

5 Individual All American Honors

6x Gsac Champion

First CBU Athlete to earn All American Status in the Steeplechase