By John Cassim
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Zimbabwean athletes have welcomed the government’s decision to allow sports to resume after being halted for more than a year and a half.
Lengthy lockdowns this year and the greater part of last year meant sports remained banned in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
With little action, most professionals were hard-hit with some failing to put food on their tables.
Depression and mental disorders among sports personalities were reported but the situation is different now after the decision to allow sporting events to resume with a few fully vaccinated spectators allowed in stadiums.
“It’s been a roller-coaster for us as not playing cricket means that we would not do what we enjoy doing,” said Zimbabwe’s female national cricket team captain Mary-Anne Musonda. “I am glad that we are back and playing. Everyone is getting tested for COVID-19, fans are back although it’s under strict health measures of disinfection and sanitization, making sure coronavirus is not there.”
Musonda is an international cricket player, who in early October became the first female Zimbabwean cricket player to score a century during a One Day International (ODI) against Ireland.
Regina Jonga, a professional bodybuilder, also welcomed the decision to re-open sports activities.
“I am happy all sports events are now open. Gyms are also open because as a bodybuilder and working on my own I rely on gyms for training,” she said. “I pleaded with the government early this year to allow gyms to open but there was nothing we could do as that was the peak of another COVID-19 wave that killed many people.”
Regina scooped up a gold medal in the Women Extreme category of the WFF bodybuilding competition in China in 2019, becoming the first Black bodybuilder from Africa to compete at such a high level.
Several athletes who spoke to Anadolu Agency expressed gratitude to the government for allowing sports to resume.
- Cancellation of tournaments was stressful
Charles Manyuchi, a WBF world middleweight champion, almost lost his title in June when the government issued a blanket ban on all sports during a third wave of the virus.
Manyuchi was supposed to defend his title on or before July 4 but authorities only allowed the match to proceed at the last minute, under strict health measures.
He fought Mahomed Sebyala from Uganda and won a unanimous decision to retain his title.
“Preparing for the supreme title fight was no easy task, we were compelled to cancel the event on two occasions, when we were later allowed to proceed with the fight between Manyuchi and Sebyala, all supporting fights were banned,” said Manyuchi’s manager Gilbert Munetsi.
“We had to bear the cost of all the boxers whom we had contracted as supporting boxers, for their transport, meals and accommodation,” Charles indicated in a response sent via Munetsi.
Regina was equally affected and did not compete in 2020.
“When COVID-19 lockdowns started last year I was preparing for a tournament in Mexico. It was canceled and the year ended without any participation.
“In June and August some tournaments in Thailand were also canceled so I am now preparing to compete in South Africa on the 22nd of November,” she said.
Regina will have to work extra hard to get in shape after not competing for more than a year.
- Financial constraints and stresses
“We have started playing our local netball matches under what is now called the ‘bubble.’ Match allowances have started coming in after more than a year of drought,” said an international netball player based in Harare, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Musonda could not reveal much how her teammates and she were affected but said: “some people lost their jobs. This affected some of the teammates. We have tried to give each other space and encourage each other just to be away from the personal stresses at home.”
Soccer is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe but players were afraid to talk to Anadolu Agency due to contractual obligations.
“Our financial situation during lockdowns as from last year have been so dire, most teams, even in the top-flight league could not pay allowances,” said one top player. “This meant some players had to do menial jobs to survive but the rest ended up breaking the law by participating in money soccer matches in their communities.”
But some athletes are still nursing the stressful effects they endured during lockdowns.
“I am still going through some depression caused by the COVID-19 and non-revenue periods, but am happy sports have resumed,” a top female boxer who spoke on condition of anonymity told Anadolu Agency.