The Sunday Mail
THE CHAMP IS HERE . . . Manyuchi is swarmed by adoring fans after touching down at the Harare International Airport — Pictures: Kuda Hunda
Gilbert Munetsi – Sports Correspondent
AS a boxing journalist for the past 23 years and a former administrator, I have broken down three times.
The first was when I returned from covering Charles Manyuchi’s fight in Lusaka against Devis Caseres of Colombia, and I was the only one to welcome him as he disembarked from a chicken bus at Harare’s Road Port, his WBC International title in the bag.
The following day I had an article in The Sunday Mail headlined: “The boxing champion that we despise”.
A day later at a Press conference I was so touched by emotion the best I could do was to tender my resignation from the Boxing Control Board.
The second instance I cried was when Delta Beverages invited Manyuchi to be a special guest at the 2014 Soccer Stars of the Year Banquet at Cresta Lodge.
Again I could not hold back my tears.
When he fought Gianlucca Frezza in Italy last week, I stayed awake the whole night, was the first to break the news of his victory to his family at 3am, and had an article in The Herald of last Monday under the headline “Charles is Champ”.
And when the announcement was made that his wish for recognition had finally been granted and he had met the President, I cried again.
I may remain banned from boxing activity for my decision to “denounce the Ministry in public and showing disrespect to our appointing authority whom we are answerable to.
I may be privileged to have been one of a few journalists to have been appointed by the Minister of Sport to be on the Zimbabwe Boxing Control Board.
But I have a national duty to safeguard and uphold the national mandate to represent and speak for the underprivileged and down trodden.
And, so, today, I proudly stand to join the rest of the country in singing the chorus: “HAIL THE CHAMPION!”
