Like fine wine, Chikoko’s getting better with age

21 Feb, 2021 - 00:02 0 Views
Like fine wine, Chikoko’s getting better with age

The Sunday Mail

Tinashe Kusema

Deputy Sports Editor

MANY athletes may feel they have reached the pinnacle of their career when they turn 30.

After years of travel, success and failure, it is easy to think that one’s best years are behind them.

However, for Zimbabwe basketball talisman Vitalis Chikoko, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The fact that the Boulogne-Levallois centre spent his February 11 birthday on the road, travelling from the French capital to the fishing town of Le Porte located south-west of Boulogne, pretty much sums where his head is at.

“On my birthday, I didn’t do much as we had an away game, so we had to travel.

“My wife did organise a surprise birthday dinner for me the night before because she knew I wasn’t going to be home on the day.

“That is what I did to celebrate my birthday,” he said.

Levallois did win that game 86-73, with Chikoko playing 20 minutes and finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds and one assist. The occasion did not go unnoticed though, as Chikoko did take a moment to reflect on the road travelled so far and the journey that lies ahead. He has no regrets over the choices he has made so far, and currently aspires to collect as many winners’ medals as possible before father time comes calling.

Off the court, he has started making plans for retirement.

“I am very happy with the choices I have made so far, and I have no regrets.

“I do, however, plan to spend the next 30 years growing my business, so that when I have kids of my own, they will have a good life.

“That is my number one priority right now. Career-wise, I just want to get as many championships as I can get in the French League.

“If I can add on some European titles too, then that would be great,” he said.

Part of the reason behind this new and more focused Chikoko is his wife Francisca Nyaradzo Nhongonhema.

The two wed at the tail-end of last year, with the star basketball player describing her as God-sent.

Nhongonhema is a Zimbabwean multi-award-winning artiste and former basketball player, who Chikoko credits for helping him through what can be best described as “trying times”.

With the French league back, Levallois have been fighting battles on two fronts.

In the league, the Paris-based outfit is in play-offs contention, as they sit fourth on the LNB ProA log standings with nine wins from 13 matches.

The team currently tops their group in the EuroCup with two wins from four matches, one being a walkover.

With Covid-19 still lurking, health protocols have become the norm, especially when travelling.

“Due to the pandemic, it has been a pretty short season so far.

“We only played 13 games in the French league, as most teams did not want to continue playing without fans.

“We have had a lot of cases in the league, so a lot of games have been cancelled. In the EuroCup, we have played all our games and we are about to finish in the top 16.

“We currently top our group,” he said.

“The Covid-19 protocols are tough; we get tested every second day, and I haven’t got used to that.

“We have to have masks everywhere, just like everyone in the world, but travelling is the scariest.

“We went to Russia recently and got tested before we left and upon landing at the airport.

“The scary part was travelling itself because you meet a lot of people and the risk of catching the virus and bringing it back home is so high.”

But the Zimbabwe captain has someone to share with all his fears and insecurities.

“Married life has been great. Having my wife here with me has helped me with a lot of stuff.

“She is always by my side, helping me to deal with the stuff this pandemic has brought, and just life in general.

“Just being around her is the best thing ever,” Chikoko said.

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