happiness Chikwanha
Collin Matiza
Sports Editor
THREE-TIME World women’s motocross champion Stefy Bau touched down at the Harare International Airport on Monday night to a rousing welcome from scores of Zimbabwean motorsport enthusiasts ahead of the start of the 2013 Zimbabwe Summer Series at Donnybrook this Saturday.Italy-born Bau, who is based in Florida, United States, shed tears of joy as she met talented young female Zimbabwean rider Tanya Muzinda who she will be working with prior and during this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series which will be held at Donnybrook on December 7, 11, 13 and 15.
The Zimbabwe Summer Series is the country’s premier motorcycling event held annually during the second week of December and it attracts top international riders from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana and Zambia.
And among the international guests who will be at this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series will be the legendary Bau who arrived in Harare on Monday night from her base in Florida, United States, at the invitation of Tanya Muzinda’s father, Tawanda “Polycup” Muzinda.
Tawanda Muzinda wants Bau to fine-tune his nine-year-old daughter’s riding skills for the next two weeks as he prepares her to become the first professional female motocross rider to emerge from Zimbabwe. Tanya Muzinda is a Grade Four pupil at Eaglesvale School in Harare.
And Bau said she felt “honoured” to be in Zimbabwe and promised to help young Tanya Muzinda realise her dream of becoming a professional motocross rider.
“I feel so excited and honoured to be here in Zimbabwe, and I’ve been touched by the good reception that I’ve received from you people here. I’m definitely looking forward to working with Tanya for the next two weeks and I think we are both going to have a wonderful experience during this period.
“I think we both share the same background because I also started racing at a very young age and I think my presence here will help her to become a great rider in the future,” Bau told members of the Zimbabwean media who were at Harare International Airport to meet her on Monday night.
Bau, who is now a professional motocross trainer, later posted on her Facebook wall: “Landed safely in Zimbabwe and all I can say is wow, what a wonderful welcome . . .Cannot wait to start this project!”
Tanya’s father, Tawanda, said Bau’s arrival in Harare has “silenced a number of doubting Thomases who thought we were not going to bring her here”.
“I am just overwhelmed by her presence here and I can’t wait to see her training my daughter during the next two weeks. And as I’ve said before, the coming of Stefy Bau to Zimbabwe is not for some publicity stunt or to show off but this is a serious project in which I would like her to help Tanya to become the first professional female motocross rider to emerge from Zimbabwe.
“Most of my colleagues who have their children who are into motocross take it as social thing but I’m determined to turn my daughter Tanya into a fully-fledged professional rider, thus the engagement of professional trainer Stefy Bau to help her in this cause.
“I think this is the beginning of a lasting relationship which will one day see Tanya carrying the Zimbabwe flag high on the international motocross scene overseas,” Tawanda Muzinda said.
Bau was also met at Harare International Airport by seasoned basketball administrator Tendai “T Buns” Zhakata who is one of the people who are behind the Italian motocross legend’s visit to Zimbabwe.
“I think Stefy Bau’s visit to Zimbabwe will raise the country’s profile as a safe destination for tourists. But the most important thing is that she humbly agreed to come down here to train Tanya and I think this will go a long way in turning her into a fine and world-class motocross rider.
“I hope other parents out there, who have their children who are actively involved in sport, emulate Tawanda Muzinda by bringing in or engaging professional coaches like Stefy Bau to come and work with their kids,” Zhakata said.
Bau’s visit to Zimbabwe has been made possible by a number of well-wishers who include Paul Chenjerai of Paza Buster, an Isuzu agent in
Harare, who provided her with a car which she will be using during her two-week stay in Harare.
One of Harare’s leading hotels, Cresta Lodge, are also hosting Bau and David Bulmer, a journalist who is accompanying her.
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