Nyamupfukudza eyes African Champs

Collin Matiza

AFTER having tasted a bronze medal at the last FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships (MXOAN), young Zimbabwean motocross rider Victor Nyamupfukudza is hungry for more.

The last African Motocross Championships were held in Cape Town, South Africa, in August 2023 where young Nyamupfukudza helped the Zimbabwe 50cc Class team walk away with a bronze medal.

His exploits on the track also helped Team Zimbabwe to finish second overall behind perennial winners South Africa.

Now the nine-year-old Nyamupfukudza is itching to have another crack at the African Championships which will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, at the end of next month.

The esteemed annual continental championships have been slated to run from October 25 to 27 in Marrakech.

And despite the secretary of the Bogwheelers Club, Jamie Kerwin, saying they were not sending any rider to Morocco next month because of the astronomical costs, Nyamupfukudza has vowed to fly the country’s flag in the North African country.

The Bogwheelers Club runs the sport of motocross in this country.

Speaking to Zimpapers Sports at the weekend, Nyamupfukudza’s father and manager, Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza, said there was no way they were going to miss the big continental event in Morocco next month.

Victor is looking at representing Zimbabwe in the 65cc and 85cc classes in Marrakech where he wants to take centre stage again.

“Yeah, I know it’s too expensive for me and Victor to fly to Morocco . . . We were initially reluctant to commit ourselves to go there . . . We need about US$1 600 each to get there minus the bike which will have to go through cargo and it’s an extra cost.

“And right now we are knocking on the doors of some potential sponsors, hoping they can bail us out before the African Championships where we will join the South African team,” Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza said.

South Africa, who are the defending African champions after sweeping the board in Cape Town in August last year, recently named their team which they feel will successfully defend their title in Marrakech next month.

The MXOAN is the only motorcycle Continental Championship in Africa, where riders from throughout Africa, will push their limits in an exciting two-day competition.

As the reigning champions with the most wins on the continent, South Africa said they will not just be participating, but will be defending their title as the African Champions in 2024.

“We anticipate an action-packed weekend filled with exciting races and warm hospitality from the host Federation.

“We have full confidence in the selected South African team and believe that they will have a successful event. We hope that each rider will have a positive experience from this wonderful opportunity,” Team South Africa recently said in a brief statement.

And Simbarashe said they would like to join up with Team South Africa before they depart for Morocco next month.

“The ideal thing is that we just want our bikes to join up and have one cargo for Morocco this will minimize the risk of the bikes or bikes getting lost on the way to Morocco.

“So, once we get the required sponsorship for me and Victor to fly to Morocco, we will ask the South African authorities to let us in and travel with us as part of their team.

“So, we are right now hoping and praying that our potential sponsors will come on board and help us to get to Morocco for this year’s African Championship . . . right now it’s 50-50 unless our sponsors let us down,” Simbarashe said.

“Victor’s chances of returning there as an African champion are so high and we just can’t wait to get there… We’re getting ready for the adrenalin-pumping action of the 2025 African Motocross Championships in Morocco.”