The Sunday Mail
BRENDA CHAORA was still three decades away from taking her first breath when James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome sang “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”.
Fifty-two years later, the award-winning song is relevant to her.
At just 22 years of age, Chaora seems to be perfecting the art of taking her place in what are predominately male-dominated professions.
A holder of a National Certificate in Electrical Engineering, a national taekwondo champion, and a fitness coach at Division 2 football outfit Natpharm, Chaora is determined to smash barriers.
Taekwondo is her first love and main source of income.
“I do not do karate, but taekwondo,” she insists at the height of a minute-long exchange on the differences between the two disciplines.
Dumbed down, the difference is basically that one is semi-contact (karate), the other full contact (taekwondo).
“I love football too, and hope to become a coach soon, but taekwondo is my heart,” continues Chaora. “I don’t remember the actual day I fell in love with the sport but I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.
“When I am on the mat, whether fighting for my club or country, I am doing something I love and that to me is the most important thing.”
Martial arts are second nature to her, but she has bigger battles in getting the world to take notice of her talents.
In taekwondo, she is yet to scale the heights her talents portend, as her fights have mostly been confined to local and regional bouts and championships due to financial constraints.
“I have been fighting for roughly six years now and have competed in about 21 championships, collecting medals at every corner.
“Unfortunately, it’s been mostly local and regional fights as sponsorship has been a challenge. I have been invited to many continental bouts but always fail to go because of my failure to finance the trips,” says Chaora.
This year she missed out on a tournament in Algeria but hopes to make up for it when she makes her continental debut in Kenya in July.
“I have been invited to Kenya to take part in the Kukkiwon Cup Taekwondo Championships and my club has promised to send me there,” she says with hope.
Football has also not been kind to her thus far, with some people still holding the archaic view that women have no place in football, and others questioning her sexuality.
“I love football and have been doing my part watching games, studying the teams and different coaching styles; all in preparation for the day I venture into coaching.
“But the challenge has been gaining acceptance. Some of the players used to find it difficult to obey my instructions and would rather propose love but that is the type of nonsense I do not tolerate, toughness is my middle name.
“Away from the pitch I also have to deal with rumours that I am a lesbian but that never affects me. I know who I am and what I what to achieve as a sportswoman. Nothing can stop me!”
