The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Around this time last year, Senpai Wilfred Mashaya was just an ordinary but talented martial artist, known more for his exploits as the moniker “Zimbabwean ninja” than his preferred craft Kubodo.
No one knew that 2018 would be Mashaya’s breakout year, for this is when the 36-year-old sealed his reputation as a bona fide Zimbabwean superstar.
Two gold medals at the Kubodo World Championships and Martial Arts festival in Malta and Spain, two Hall of fame inductions in Serbia and Barcelona and suddenly the world took notice.
However, as he woke up yesterday in possession of the coveted Annual National Sports Awards Sportsman and Sportsperson of the Year award, Mashaya’s journey towards stardom made its final stop.
Now his name will be spoken in the same breath as the likes Samson Muripo, Charles Manyuchi, swimming icon and current Minister of Youth, sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry and tennis ace Cara Black among other winners of the double.
But fame is the farthest thing from this non-chuck and freestyle champion.
“There are a lot of emotions coursing through my body right now; I’m happy, humbled, excited and most importantly grateful,” said Mashaya, shortly after receiving his award on Friday night.
For Mashaya its all about the little things, firstly, his journey to the top, the meaning behind his wins and the work still to be done.
“Winning these awards means that the hard work and sweat poured in, the sleepless nights and all the effort put into my craft were not for nothing. It means the world to me and is that jolt that I needed to solider on and continue to raise the country’s flag high,” he said.
The fact that he got to share his big moment with two of his idols, in mentor Shihan Samson Muripo and the honourable minister Coventry, was the icing that Mashaya’s coming out party needed.
“Shihan Muripo is like a father figure and mentor to me, as I began my journey in martial arts as a karateka, and the fact that he was there to share in my moment and the first to congratulate me is something I will cherish for the rest of my life, said Mashaya.
“I have met the honourable minister twice now, first upon my return from Barcelona for the Hall of Fame induction, then last night when she presented me with my awards.
“I have always been a fan of hers; I remember sitting with a few of my family and friends, to watch her win all those medals at the Olympics, Commonwealth and World Championships.
“We chatted a bit and she gave me some tips and advice on how to further my profile,” he said. The feeling was mutual as the minister had nothing but glowing praise for the upstart. “He (Mashaya) has a great work ethic, and I was very impressed by not only his achievements but who he is as a person,” said Minister Coventry.
“We chatted a bit; he is a great young man, he wants to do some work with my academy and the various communities and those are amazing attributes as an athlete.
“Doing well, coming back and wanting to give back is something you rarely see in sport, so I think that mentality will take him far,” she said.
