Muzhingi unsung hero

Daily News

By Nigel Matongorere, Sports Writer

31 May 2011

The story of Zimbabwe’s marathon runner Stephen Muzhingi states how prophets are not recognised in their hometown, but are revered elsewhere.

The three-time Comrades Marathon winner from Chitungwiza almost dumped the country of his birth by acquiring South African citizenship due to the little appreciation of his achievements in Zimbabwe.

First ran in 1921, the Comrades Marathon is the world’s largest and oldest ultra-marathon race and is a test of the entrants physical endurance.

Muzhingi defied all odds to win his third Comrades Marathon on the trot yesterday.

The 34-year-old broke away from South African Fanie Matshipa with 14km remaining in the 87km to cross the line in five hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds (5:32.45).

To show the significance of Muzhingi’s victory, no athlete in the last 23 years had managed a hat-trick of victories at the Comrades.

The last man to achieve this was South African Bruce Fordyce, who won the race between 1981 and 1988.

Despite this great achievement against top runners from across the world, Zimbabwe does not seem to give due credit towards Muzhingi’s achievement.

“Here in Zimbabwe, people do not know me,” bemoaned Muzhingi last year. I am a recognised in South Africa and the people there like me.”

“Companies and restaurants fall over each other to promote me but in Zimbabwe I do not have a single sponsor. A lot of my specialised training for races is done in South Africa and I need money for travelling, accommodation and facilities while I’m there. I cannot raise that money alone but there are people in South Africa who sacrifice and put money forward. I owe it to them but back home, I struggle on my own.”

After yesterday’s victory, the gravity of Muzhingi’s win still had not sunk into most Zimbabweans.

Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister, David Coltart, was the first to admit that Muzhingi is not getting the recognition he deserves in his home country.

“Very few people seem to appreciate what a truly remarkable win Stephen Muzhingi has had today.

“He is a humble man from a poor background,” Coltart wrote on his Twitter page yesterday.

“Muzhingi has achieved this magnificent hat-trick without much of the backing that athletes receive elsewhere in the world. Makorokoto!

“We need to turn out in force when Muzhingi returns so he knows that Zimbabwe is proud and mightily impressed with his achievements.”

Last July, Harare mayor Muchadei Masunda held a ceremony in honour of Muzhingi after he won his second Comrades Marathon.

Muzhingi’s frustration with his country is understood if you compare the reception he received last year to that of 2010 Big Brother contestant Munyaradzi Chidzonga.

There can only be one winner in Big Brother and that was not Chidzonga, but still government officials ran around and hurriedly organised a lavish welcome for him, and a cool $300 000.

A classic example of misplaced priorities, whereby we reward losers and neglect the real heroes we should be honouring.

In a country where unemployment levels are worrisome, sports can be a gateway for idle youths who are slowly being consumed by drugs and Aids.

Honouring our sports icons will be a good place to start.