The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
LIKE most Germans, and citizens of that nation, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, was among the many that listened attentively as Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the latest update on the Covid-19 pandemic in the European country last week.
After a meeting with state leaders, the German Chancellor extended the lockdown until March 28, much to the chagrin of the Zimbabwe rugby international, who plies his trade with TV Pforzheim.
There is intent by the German government to gradually relax restrictions and conditions for business to reopen, but there was no concrete reprieve for sport.
“Nothing much has changed,” said Chitokwindo.
“We have been on lockdown since December, and it was recently extended to March 28,” said the Zimbabwe Sables and Cheetahs international.
With the exception of football, most sports remain banned and the direness of the situation seems to have finally taken its toll on Chitokwindo.
The 30-year-old has started to contemplate retirement, or at the very least start making plans for it.
“I am not getting any younger, and I have already started furthering my education so that I can successfully join the corporate world once my playing days are over,” said Chitokwindo.
“I am currently doing my second Bachelors’ in Information Technology (IT) degree here in Pforzheim.
“The plan is, hopefully, by the time I finish my degree — and the time I decide to retire from both international and domestic rugby, I would have gotten my papers and will be able to apply for a job here in Germany.
“I have been doing a little bit of refereeing here and there for Sevens, and been trying to get my licences in order.
“If I fail to grace the Olympics as a player, maybe I can one day do it as a referee.”
Fortunately for Zimbabweans, Chitokwindo is not ready to call it quits just yet.
However, the whole Covid-19 pandemic has had the winger thinking about things.
“I think a lot of people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and I actually know of a few individuals that have been grossly affected.
“I have a couple of friends that have lost their playing contracts and been forced to relocate back home to Australia and some to New Zealand.
“They have been forced to start from scratch, which in sport is not that easy.
“Say you have been playing rugby for something five to 10 years, odds are that starting something anew will be difficult.
“These have been some of the negative effects of the pandemic . . . suspension of sport and lockdowns, not to mention some sportsmen gaining weight and while others lose their income.”
Chitokwindo still has high hopes of playing again, and is under no illusions about the grandeur on the mountain that awaits Zimbabwe’s Olympic Games and 2023 World Cup chances.
The speed merchant is open to taking the vaccine, if it means getting back on the pitch.
He revealed that he is willing to step down from the Sables (XVs game), as a way of giving the younger players a chance.
But he did not rule out prolonging his game in the shorter version, the Sevens.
“I feel like, at this point, we have got no choice in the matter.
“People are dying, have been dying and the least we can do now is to try and find solutions.
“I am very indifferent to it, but if getting back on the field means getting vaccinated then I am ready,” Chitokwindo said.
On the national duties for the Sables and Sevens, he said:
“At this point in time, I think the best I can do is play my part in helping nurture some of the younger and upcoming players.
“Some of us are now old horses, age-wise, and what we are left with is the experience which we should impart to the younger guys.
“They will be in the next World Cup, and qualifiers, and now is the time for them to start getting a look in and some much-needed game time”.
Chitokwindo still has some gas left in the tank for the Sevens game.
Not only that, but a few items to tick off his bucket list.
“I am just going to try to push for Olympic qualification, maybe Hong Kong World Series qualification and then maybe see if we can qualify for the World Cup in Cape Town.
“If I manage to play three World Cups then I will have earned the right to retire,” Chitokwindo said.
