adminTadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
MASHAMBANHAKA Primary School, located in the heart of Uzumba, has built a profile not as a centre of academic excellence but as home to one of the country’s rare sporting talents.
Thirteen-year-old Ngaakudzwe Chipunza, a Grade 6 pupil, has broken a number of athletics records in the country.
For the third year running, Chipunza won gold for the country in the 100m, 80m and 200m hurdles in the annual Cossasa Games with the latest feat achieved in Botswana.
Not only does she excel in athletics, she is also a handball star.
She was even selected to represent the country in her age-group in Germany last year though she couldn’t raise the money needed for her to embark on the trip.
Chipunza is also very bright in class as her class teacher Zachariah Wurahwa confirms.
Yet, Chipunza’s talent could end up going to waste, just like the several such cases in the country, if she doesn’t join an academy of repute where she can be moulded into an accomplished athlete.
She lives with her maternal grandmother as her mother is in Bindura while her father is late.
So dire is her situation that teachers at Mashambanhaka contribute to pay for her school fees.
At times, the United Methodist Church chips in with some school requirements.
“Ngaakudzwe is a gem of an athlete. She has broken national records for the past three years. She has gone on to impress in the Cossasa Games where she has brought at least two gold medals in the past three years,” said Wurahwa.
“Teachers at Mashambanhaka, as well as the United Methodist Church, often contribute for her school fees.
‘’She stays with her grandmother who can hardly fend for herself so the situation is not very nice.
‘’As concerned guardians we just decided to chip in to help her since she is good-mannered, bright and talented.
“She is one of the best students in my class and the best sprinter in the country in her age-group.
“But our fear now is her talent could end up being wasted if she doesn’t join some academies who can help fine-tune her skills.
“She needs sponsors to see her realise her dreams.’’
Newly-appointed board member for the International Safeguarding Children in Sport Advisory Board, Kupakwashe Mukurumbira, said athletes like Chipunza need to be guided to become professionals.
“Firstly, I would like to appreciate the appointment which we have landed as a country.
It gives us a good standing in terms of controlling and moulding our athletes,” said Mukurumbira.
“We would appreciate working with NAPH and NASH to train them on the safeguarding of children in sport.
‘’Pupils like Ngaakudzwe are talented and they need proper monitoring if we intend to see them winning medals for the country.’’
Online Reporter