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Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation have saluted young female motocross rider Tanya Muzinda for “scoring a double” at Wednesday night’s Annual National Sports Awards in Harare. Muzinda (10) was on left walking on Cloud Nine after she scooped both the Zimbabwe Junior Sportswoman of the Year and the Junior Sportsperson of the Year awards at the ANSA banquet which was held at the Rainbow Towers.
These two awards were the icing on the cake for Muzinda who, at the beginning of October, walked away with the 2015 Zimbabwe International Women Awards’ (ZIWA) Sportswoman of the Year Award in Birmingham, England.
And Temba Mazvimbakupa, the Press Liaison Officer of the Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation, gave the talented young female motocross rider a pat on the back for scooping two more awards at this year’s ANSA night on Wednesday.
“Zimbabwe motocross sensation Tanya Muzinda was yesterday nominated the Junior Sportswoman of the Year for 2015 at the Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA). “Congratulations Tanya Muzinda and all those at the Bogwheelers Club who continue to support Tanya. The young girl is also involved with the Harare Children’s Hospital where she is helping to raise funds for the upkeep of the institution,” Mazvimbakupa wrote on the ZMSF Facebook wall yesterday.
In fact, Muzinda scored a first on Wednesday night as she became the only motocross rider from Zimbabwe to win a national sporting award.
And Muzinda yesterday said she felt honoured to win both the Zimbabwe Junior Sportswoman of the Year and the Junior Sportsperson of the Year awards.
“I feel honoured and was not expecting it so it came as a huge surprise to me as I thought there were more familiar athletes who I was contesting against. As my first attempt to enter the awards, I thought a girl from BMX would capture the title but in the end I was very happy to have won it.
“I am now looking forward to 2016 and I will work very hard and continue to do well. I wish to contest some races in Europe which can give me more exposure. Racing against boys has given me confidence and I believe that helped me a lot.
“I treasure the Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award most as it had both boys and girls so it showed that I worked hard. Also the organisers did a very good job in honouring the athletes as it gives them motivation and I would also like to thank my manager Tendai ‘T-Buns’ Zhakata, who has been supportive throughout.
“My wish is to have more sponsors next year so that I can take part in more events both at home and abroad,” Muzinda said. Muzinda was not the only athlete from motorsport who was nominated for this year’s ANSA awards as another young, talented motocross rider Emmanuel Bako (9) was a nominee for the Junior Sportsman of the Year accolade but he unfortunately lost it to rower Kyle Hinde.
But Bako’s handlers said yesterday that they were not disappointed by their protégé’s failure to walk away with the Junior Sportsman of the Year award on Wednesday night.
“We were nearly there . . . It was not about winning the award but the most important thing is the recognition that Emmanuel got for being nominated for the Junior Sportsman of the Year title. This showed that he did something special during the year and this will help in motivating him to scale greater heights in his beloved sport of motocross.
“It is our hope that Emmanuel will be back again next year, not only as one of the three nominees for the Junior Sportsman of the Year Award but probably for the main one — the Sportsperson of the Year Award — as we have bigger and better plans for him in 2016,” Bako’s handlers said yesterday.
Online Reporter