Sports personalities reflections of the year

their families and friends as they celebrate the Christmas holiday and reflect on their successes and failures of the year.
However, for most sports personalities it is time to plan for a new beginning.
Warriors’ coach Norman Mapeza whose team failed to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals said his focus will now be on next year’s events as he has a hectic schedule ahead of him.
“I think I will be around. I won’t be going anywhere. It’s going to be busy next year. There is no time to rest.
“The time I thought I was going to rest is when we went to Tanzania for the Cecafa tournament. Last year, I wasn’t doing anything and I had time to do what I wanted.
“We have this friendly coming in the first week of January and I can’t go far away just like I used to do,” said Mapeza.
Zimbabwe women’s football boss, Mavis Gumbo, said they have a busy year ahead of them and there is no much time to rest.
“My year has been very hectic ever since I took the post of chairperson but as someone used to pressure I was managing. I don’t think I will have a break. We have an international friendly with Malawi on January 7 and our first competitive match is on January 15. “I don’t see myself taking any break because I have to make sure these fixtures are fulfilled. I will just get a day to go and see my relatives in Mberengwa,” said Gumbo.
Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive, Anna Mguni, said despite her busy schedule she will spare sometime for her family.
“The year 2011 has been a blessed year for me especially having been appointed CEO of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
“It became an amazing challenge. I have been working for the past eight weeks but will definitely spend the festive season with my family and make sure we celebrate in the true spirit of Christmas.
“I will be with my big family that is my mom, sisters and my brothers. In my family it’s a tradition of spending time together at Christmas and it was introduced by my father since I was young . . . We always do that,” said Mguni.
Zimbabwe’s top female golf player Claire Minter said she would be practising but also hopes to spend some time with her family and friends.
“I will be practising for the 2012 season but I will be staying at home with family and friends. I hope I will enjoy the holiday,” said Minter.
Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association president, Arkil Yousuf, said he will be preparing for next year’s events.
“I will be practising for the Sunshine Tour and it will be quiet. I will stay at home with my family and friends, no major plans but I expect to be happy,” said Yousuf.
Hwange mentor Tenant Chilumba, who was crowned the 2011 Castle Lager Premiership Coach of the Year, said for him there is no holiday as he has a lot on his hands with his team preparing for the Confederation Cup.
“I think there is more work, it’s not a holiday. It’s going back to the drawing board. It is the first time for Hwange to be in the Confederation Cup.
“It’s a big challenge this holiday when looking at the programme, it opens my mind to just focus on the future.
“It’s different from last year as I have achieved this for the first time in my career winning the Coach of the Year award and my club was voted the most disciplined team of the year. I was very happy,” said Chilumba.
For Soccer Star of the Year Washington Arubi, also voted the best player at Dynamos the festive season is time to rest and he will be visiting his family in Mutare.
“I will be at home with my mother. I am going to Mutare and will be spending time with my family. For me it’s the same, I usually love to be with my family.
“I spend most of my time at work so during the holidays, it’s an opportunity to be with my family,” said Arubi.
Former karate world champion Samson Muripo said he has a number of tournaments next year which requires him to be physically fit and it will be training as usual.
“I will be training because I have a lot of events that requires physical ability and I will be around with some guys.
“I am going to church on Sunday and Monday it’s back to training.
“Normally I don’t love parties because sometimes people tend to overdo things so I try to keep myself busy,” said Muripo.
Rugby Sevens team manager, Bruce Hobson, who runs a retail shop in the capital, said it’s business time at this time of the year.
“I have spent a lot of time away in Dubai and Port Elizabeth with the Sevens. In my line of business, it’s a busy time of the year.
“I will be working very hard. My family works with me in the business so we will just take sometime on Christmas day and then go back to work.
“The Sevens’ training is starting in January so I will be planning for next year,” said Hobson.
Top tennis player Takanyi Garanganga said he will be with his family and will be leaving for his base in the United States on Monday.
“I am spending time with my family. Everyone is here . . . I haven’t seen them for quite sometime. Actually we are having a get together tomorrow (today) and on Christmas day I will be sleeping.
“I am leaving the country on Monday, going back to the United States for training,” said Garanganga.
Zimbabwe kickboxing association president, Tony Kamangira, said the holidays are a time to relax with his family.
“I am just planning to relax at home with my family. I will be around because travelling at this time of the year is difficult.
“I will also be working out on how we are going to approach the new year.
“I will also take time to interact with the other members and prepare for next year,” said Kamangira.
Veteran Dynamos midfielder Murape Murape noted that there would be a lot to celebrate this festive season, having won the league and cup double with DeMbare.
“I think I will spend the time with my family – my mother and my father and my relatives. I am going to our rural areas to visit my grandmother and my in-laws.
“This year we won and everyone is happy. My relatives are happy with the achievements we have had.
“We achieved something great, 2011 was a perfect year.
“Our holiday is a bit better after winning a double. I will just take time to relax and look out for next year,” said Murape.