Sundaymail Editor
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
TO say Itayi Sango has a somewhat “complicated” relationship with Zimbabwe would be a gross understatement.
His legion of fans from Nyanga, and the local Taekwondo family to some extent, have to feel some way when they see the 39-year-old fighter fly the Mozambican flag high with his regional and international exploits in martial arts.
However, the same people cannot really criticise the reason behind the move from his rural home in Ruwangwe to the Guro district in Mozambique in 2015 in search of greener pastures.
At the time, his dreams of one day becoming an international Taekwondo champion were fading due to lack of resources, and the Mozambique Federation made him an offer he could not refuse.
Still, all this information has done little to thaw this love/hate relationship with Zimbabwe.
To his credit, Sango knows and feels the pain.
In fact, the Zimbabwe-born prizefighter still holds out hope of one day taking to the mat in Zimbabwe colours.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do want to wear the Zimbabwean colours at least once before I retire,” said the Mozambique-based fighter.
“That craving gets bigger every time I come back home.
“I cannot say for certain when, and if, that will ever happen, so I have decided to simply leave that door open.
“After all, you never know what the future holds,” he said.
No doubt, the 39-year-old will once again feel conflicted next month when he comes for a regional tournament that is expected to attract top fighters from the SADC region.
It is expected to be an icy homecoming.
The last time he returned home in 2018 for the Zimbabwe Open Taekwondo Championships, Sango and three other Mozambican fighters were involved in a car accident that sidelined him for six weeks.
The accident occurred in Kotwa, some 50 kilometres away from the Zimbabwe and Mozambique border.
“It was really traumatic and I still have bad memories about that day,” he said.
“I remember that when I left Mozambique, I went on television and promised the entire nation of Mozambique that I was coming to Zimbabwe to compete and win,” he recounted.
“Unfortunately, it was a dream that was cut before it came to fruition.
“The accident itself affected me psychologically, because it was my first time being involved in something like that, and it took something like six weeks for me to start walking and training again.
“Those couple of weeks were some of the hardest days of my life.”
Lucky for him, the Mozambique Taekwondo Federation chipped in, to financially assist Sango and his fellow fighters.
He is, however, now ready to finally fulfil the promise he made to his fellow countrymen in 2018.
He also intends to use the tournament as preparation for the World Taekwondo Championships later this year.
“This is a regional tournament and, as such, countries like Zambia, Malawi, Eswatini, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and, of course, Mozambique will be all represented.
“It’s a big challenge, regionally, and it’s an opportunity to test myself against the best the SADC region has to offer.
“Most importantly, the tournament will be held in Zimbabwe, which is home, and the World Taekwondo Championships are just around the corner, so this tournament is part and parcel of my preparations for that.
“Right now, the World Championships and another one slated for Spain next month are my main focus,” he said.
Not to be outdone, Sango is also planning something special for his country of birth.
“I will retire in 2025, as that is the year I plan to leave the mat and rest,” he added.
“Before that, the main goal is the 2024 Olympic Games, and everything that I have done and everything I am doing is to help my bid to qualify for those Games.
“After that, I have an academy here in Mozambique and the post-retirement plan is to expand this Taekwondo academy.
“I want to have bases in every province here (Mozambique) and then open another one back home in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Online Reporter