The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda – Sports Reporter
PATIENCE MASTER is one frustrated boxer despite being one of the few professional female pugilits in the country.
Hailing from the Mbare based Kachigwada family, renowned for producing locally prominent pugilists such as Farai Master, Livingstone Master and Brighton Master, boxing is naturally part of her DNA.
However, the appalling state of the sport is in has taken its toll on her.
With no fights coming her way Master captures the plight of female boxers who chose the sport as a profession but are now engaged in self-pitying.
Master’s local promoter Boris Zneider has tried his best to secure fights for her but these have been very few and far between.
The 25-year-old Master is now regretting her decision to turn pro in 2006 as she can no longer take part in “lucrative” amateur competitions such as the All-Africa Games and other international events.
Frustrated by the turn of events, Master has resorted to her other talent, soccer, to eke out a living.
She is now on the books of Women’s Soccer League champions Flame Lily.
“I regret the day I turned pro,” says Kachigwada.
“I have now missed a lot of opportunities. I could have been fighting in such competitions as the All-Africa Games and probably earning better.
“There are no professional fights coming my way, sometimes you go for two years without a meaningful bout and when it comes the purse is just a pittance.
“Last year I had only one bout in December, which only came after a total drought in 2013. The situation is bad, we need to pay rentals and look after our families but with boxing that is impossible.”
Master has earned US$500 from boxing in nearly three years.
Her last fight to be recorded by Box Rec — the official boxing stats authority — was way back in January 2008 when she lost away to Unathi Myekeni of South Africa.
Her professional debut was a loss to Zambian female legend Esther Phiri in June 2006 and she has earned only six recognised professional bouts since then.
“The advantage I have is that I am also a good footballer and I thank God Flame Lily Queens accepted me. I am now fully employed by the Zimbabwe Prison Services and life is better.
“But I am in a dilemma because boxing is in me and I try to juggle it with my soccer career. When the soccer season is on I train in the morning before rushing to the boxing gym in the afternoon.
“I still have hope that one day something will work out and I will realise my boxing dream,” she said.
