Mixed feelings for triumphant Kurash wrestlers amid lack of govt support

By Caleb Chikwawawa

Zimbabwean Kurash wrestlers, who recently won the Kurash Wrestling tournament in South Africa to also qualify for World competitions end of this year, have voiced concerns over lack of both government and private sector support as they represent the country in the sport.

Speaking in Harare Tuesday at a press conference organised by the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control board (ZNBWC), African Kurash Championship winner Jonathan Muvingi, AKA, Mr Mart, said lack of financial support from his own country made it harder to succeed.

“The journey to South Africa was quite difficult because things here in Zimbabwe are not yet okay in terms of sponsorship.

“Because I sponsored my own journey, it was so difficult,” he said.

The press conference was meant to officially welcome Muvingi and other fighters back in the country after seeing tremendous success in their competitions.

Turning to the team’s efforts in the recent tournament, Mr Mart was proud they rose above their challenges to come out victorious against very strong opponents.

“Although we were faced with many challenges, we managed to win.

“The teams that we fought with were strong.

“Egypt is one of the strongest ones; it had very good fighters.

“Egypt wrestlers can fight but we managed to fight and win.

“I’m so glad that I was able to defeat Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.

“Congo-Brazzaville has got very huge people, when you look at me, I seem to be a big person, but if I’m around fighters from Congo-Brazzaville, I will be a baby.

“However, I am so glad that as Zimbabwe, three of us managed to go and managed to achieve and came back with five medals,” he said.

Muvingi triumphed in two different categories, walking away with a gold and a silver.

Speaking at the same event, ZNBWCB CEO Priscilla Kadungure said that two of their wrestlers qualified for the world senior championships.

Two other female fighters also took part with one of them already moving on to the professionals from the amateur side.

“So, we are also celebrating Tawananyasha and Seabel for their achievement during the same tournament.

“We have impressive performances by both Jonathan and Seabel as well.

“They both qualified for the world senior championships though Seabel is actually graduating from the amateur side to the professionals.

“So, this is a tremendous opportunity to compete at a global stage.

“The board supports you in the next step and we are fully behind you as a board, as a sector and as government,” said Kadungure.