The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
NATIONAL junior swimming champion Nomvula Mjimba is refusing to let a shoulder injury dampen her spirits ahead of the Africa Junior Championships in Egypt next month. Mjimba (12) is a champion and champions believe. Mjimba injured her shoulder playing hockey during the swimming off season but remains confident she will recover in time for the championships that are set to run from October 17-20 in Cairo.
“I got the injury from playing hockey, when I was about to hit the ball I felt something pull on my shoulder,” said the Dominican Convent Form One pupil.
“I just hope that my injury heals and I can go there, compete, post good times and comeback knowing that I gave it 110% effort.”
Having brutally dominated the local scene the forthcoming junior championships will give Mjimba a chance to prove her worth in more elite company.
“I want to make the final,” she declared.
“Obviously I will be swimming with people a year older than me, but I will try my best to keep pace with them and get good times,” added Mjimba who will compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly categories.
Inspired by Kirsty Coventry and American Michael Phelps the highly rated youngster disclosed that she uses music to psyche up for races.
“Being the person to beat always gives me motivation as well. At school training and at galas people want to beat me and it just lifts up my spirit.
“The competition is good for me, because I know I cannot afford to play around as there is someone who seriously wants to beat me,” said the starlet who has already broken some of Coventry’s school records including the 50m freestyle.
Nomvula also feels indebted to her mother Zanele.
“She is always the one taking me to swimming, driving and picking me up. She likes just being there, knowing what’s happening, knowing that we are doing the right stuff.
“I want to win a lot of races for her” she said.
Mjimba’s coach Malcolm Cocks believes the swimmer will recover in time for the trip to Egypt.
“We haven’t been able to train full out and I have been nursing it (the shoulder injury) as a coach, trying to help her get ready and am confident she will go to Cairo in perfect shape.
“She will need to be because she is in the younger part of her age group. There are two age groups 13 and 14 as well as 15 and 16.
“She achieved a 14-year old’s qualification time so she will be up against girls a year older than her. However, I am confident she will rise to the occasion as always.
“Nomvula is now our best female junior swimmer in the country because Rati Mutangadura has gone to do medicine in Malawi, she was our number one,” said the 62-year-old veteran coach.
