The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
BRAZILIAN football legend Jairzinho, English cricket hero Sir Alistair Cook and United States of America basketball player Eric Gordon have something in common.
1994 African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amunike and ex-Liverpool star Garry McAllister also share this special something with the above-mentioned athletes.
Well, they were all born on Christmas Day.
These global sports stars share the same birthday with some top sports personalities in Zimbabwe, including Ngezi Platinum Stars midfielder Devon Chafa and former Warriors left-back Ronald Pfumbidzai.
The Zimbabwean duo had a special Xmas and joined the rest of the local sporting fraternity in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ yesterday.
However, for Sensei Wilfred Mashaya, Christmas Day brings sad memories as it was the day his father passed away in 2020.
“For me, Christmas is a day to remember. This one marks exactly a year since my father passed away,” he told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.
“My father very supportive of my career and was a pillar in life,” said the karate Hall of Famer and former kobudo world champion.
“However, life goes on and we also have to spend some quality time with family and friends.
“We are here in Eastlea, Harare, mixing and mingling with friends and relatives.”
Former Dynamos and Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere is now into serious mining but he took some time off to spend Christmas with his family in Mashava.
“I have just arrived from the mine and I am spending the day with my family at home. This is a very important day for the family, and our children value this day a lot.
“They want to spend it with their father and I have to be there with them.
“You know what? When we are toiling day and night we are doing it for our family, not our friends, so we as fathers should learn to spend some quality time with our families, especially on Christmas Day.”
Veteran boxing promoter Stalin Mau Mau, who survived Covid-19 early this year, spent the whole day indoors at his Greendale plot.
“I would have loved to go out for a holiday, but I am spending this Christmas indoors because of the coronavirus.
“I once contracted this disease and I know how deadly it is.
“I have invited a few boxers from my stable and we will be talking, reflecting about boxing and life in general,” he said.
“By the way, I have also prepared a special dish of dried rabbit meat mixed with peanut butter.
“I am not talking about the peanuts to diamonds boxing tournament, I am talking about a special dish for Xmas. “Christmas is time to thank God for taking us this far.”
The veteran promoter is famous for the quarterly “Peanuts to Diamond” boxing tournaments he hosts in Harare.
Division One side Golden Eagles’ owner Barry Manandi was also at home with his family.
“This is the time to spend with family,” he said.
Dynamos star Shadreck Nyahwa is back in Bulawayo and was hanging out with friends and family.
“Not much to do here, but we are happy just to spend some time together as a family.
“I am also with my childhood friends talking and laughing,” said the former national Under-23 player.
For World Boxing Federation champion Charles Manyuchi, this Xmas holiday is a bit hectic as he is preparing for a title fight scheduled some time in January.
The former WBC Silver welterweight champion did, however, find time to spend with orphans at Vana Children’s Care in Chivhu on Unity Day.
“I am preparing for camp, so, as we speak, I am trying to put all the necessities in order before I dash off to the mine for a few hours.
“It’s not the usual Christmas, because the focus is on the title fight that’s coming in January. However, I am glad I had a nice time with orphans at Vana Children’s Care in Chivhu on December 22.
“Christmas is a time to give, and I thank God I managed to donate some foodstuffs there,” he said.
Manyuchi is set to defend his WABA title in Lusaka on January 29.
He finds himself in the same predicament with the Warriors, who are also in camp preparing for the African Cup of Nations finals set for Cameroon next month.
