Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
VINCENT Chidambazina’s remarkable journey from a survivor of Cyclone Idai to becoming one of Zimbabwe’s top amateur golfers is an inspirational tale of resilience and perseverance.
Despite losing a nine-hole course in his hometown of Chimanimani during the devastating natural disaster in 2019, Chidambazina continued to pursue his passion for golf.
Starting at the age of eight, he spent many hours perfecting his skills and honing his technique. His hard work and dedication paid off when he represented Zimbabwe in the All-Africa Golf Team Championship held at the prestigious Bulawayo Golf Club recently.
The fact that golf is not very popular in Chimanimani adds another layer of difficulty to Chidambazina’s journey. Yet, he has emerged victorious, becoming a beacon of hope for aspiring young golfers in his hometown and beyond.
Chidambazina’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work, and the human spirit’s resilience. He has overcome tremendous challenges to prove that anything is possible with a determined mindset and a willingness to work hard towards one’s goals.
“I have come so far to play this tournament (AAGTC). I started playing golf at eight years of age in 2014. It is a great honour to play this game, representing the country. It is something that I am proud of. Things have been hard for me in this game. To have come this far, I really appreciate everyone who is helping me achieve whatever I want to achieve in my golf career.
“I experienced Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani in 2019. Those were very hard situations. I survived, and I thank God for that. I am now representing the country, and I think God has something for me, and that is why I survived the cyclone. I am certain I am going to do much better in my golf career beyond this. I am just so grateful to represent Zimbabwe and everyone in Chimanimani,” said Chidambazina.
In July, Chidambazina bagged his third title of the season by winning the Manicaland Amateur at Hillside Golf Club. Before that, he had won the Bulawayo Amateur and Hillside Masters in April and May respectively. When he took up the game, he had no idea it would take him this far and turn him into one of the best in Zimbabwe.
“My nephew motivated me to play golf. When I started playing golf, he became my first coach, and I am grateful for that. He taught me so much that no one could have ever taught me and I still thank him. When I started, I didn’t know anything; I was just playing to enjoy, but as time went by, I realised that maybe I had some talent. I then decided to give it a chance and see what I can achieve, and here I am, doing well, and I am proud of that,” he said.
Chidambazina is now based in Mutare, where he is doing his A-levels and he has his eyes set on securing a college scholarship to the United States of America and then turn professional.
“First of all, I want to pass my A-levels, and after that, I will try to go to a golf college in the United States of America. That will be very good for me. If I play collegiate golf in America, it will help me a lot on my way to becoming a professional golfer, and I am sure if I go there, after that, I will turn pro and start living the golf world,” he said.
Many people believe that golf is for the elite. It is a popular belief that the sport is only played by the rich; however, dedicated people like Chidambazina discard this misconception. Golf is for everyone and can help open doors.
“Some people think golf is a game for the rich, but that is not the truth of it. You can play golf even from a poor background like me. I am from a poor background, but people started to help me when they saw that there was something in me that they appreciated.
“So I can say, golf helps a lot; it can change your life. It helps a lot economically and socially. It teaches you good manners; you interact with people and learn a lot from them, their cultures and so forth. If you are a young person, just give golf a try; you will never know where your talent is. If you get the chance, just give it a shot,” said Chidambazina.
At the 2024 AAGTC, Chidambazina finished tied 16th with a score of 11-over-par-299 and was the third highest placed Zimbabwean on the individual leader-board after Michael Wallace (two-under-par-286) and Keegan Shutt (six-over-par-294). Chidambazina had round scores of 70, 76, 78 and 75.
On the team leader-board, Chidambazina and Zimbabwe finished in third place with a score of 14-over-878 behind winners South Africa (21-under-par-843) and Zambia (10-over-par-874).
“To every Zimbabwean, local and abroad, if you have time, you must try playing golf. It’s a good game that can put you somewhere you cannot be without it. It helps with respect, manners and sportsmanship, which is good,” Chidambazina said. – @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter