The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
IN December 2008, at the height of the country’s economic turmoil, Itai Sango (pictured right) walked over 100km from Nyanga into Mozambique in search of his dream.
Tired of living from hand to mouth, starved of competition and constantly missing out on what could be career defining tournaments; the 28-year-old Taekwondo specialist’s breakthrough came by chance as the Mozambique Taekwondo Federation made him an offer he could not resist.
“Things were very hard for me prior to my move to Mozambique, so much that I actually had to walk roughly 106 kilometres from my home in Avila, Ruwangwe (Nyanga) to Guro district in Mozambique once the deal was finalised,” said Sango.
“It took us three days to complete that journey. The problem was sponsorship and money. Those are two of the biggest things in my sport and I had neither of them.
“Money allows one to train and travel to competitions safely and comfortably, after which each competition boosts your profile and usually lead to bigger tournaments.
“I wasn’t getting any of that in Zimbabwe, as cash and sponsorship were hard to get” he said.
However, everything changed once the Mozambique federation dangled a comprehensive sponsorship package in his face.
“I didn’t give the offer a second thought, l jumped onto it,” said Sango.
“I was welcomed almost immediately by the Mozambican government, the federation and the people. I am now sort of a celebrity as I am constantly on television, have a legion of fans who love me and I them.
“I don’t want to lie, things are good here in Mozambique. I take part in every tournament I want, I have settled nicely and while I am not super rich, I do well enough that I can take care of my family, I have properties and a fleet of cars,” he said.
Sango has taken part in roughly 37 tournaments, collecting approximately 33 gold, a silver and three bronze medals. The 28-year-old Zimbabwe born fighter is currently ranked 37 in the world, and has been the Mozambican national champion since 2014.
The sport has taken him all around the world, gracing the 2015 and 2017 Taekwondo World Championships in Russia and South Korea respectively. He has also been to the Africa Taekwondo Championships in Morrocco, along with many other tournaments in China, Hong Kong and Azerbaijan, to name but a few.
But still, that doesn’t seem to be enough. The Mozambique-based fighter still has one more item to tick off his bucket list, and that is to round off his career back in the motherland.
“I am a son of the soil, Samanyika; I was born and bred in Nyanga.
“It is my hope that one day I will be able to hoist the Zimbabwe flag in triumph and represent nyika yaMbuya Nehanda,” he said.
“Plans are definitely afoot for me to come back as I have plans to represent the country and also open up an academy in Nyanga and help those who might have the talent but lack the resources. Unfortunately, I can’t give you much information about my return as things are currently in the works, but as far as the academy is concerned I have already bought the land and equipment which is in transit from South Korea,” he said.
Sango also has his personal reasons for wanting to come back home.
“When I was young, I was bullied a lot when we went out to head the cattle. My mother (Anne Nyajeka) would scold me for not fighting back and defending myself.
“That changed when my late uncle Wilchard Nyajeka decided to introduce me to Taekwondo and I owe my entire career and the life I have to him. I think it would be nice if I could fight for Zimbabwe, as he did as a soldier during his days.
“It would truly be a nice way to honour his memory,” he said.
