The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
ITAI SANGO is coming back home after nine years of representing Mozambique at international taekwondo competitions.
The publication of a story by The Sunday Mail Sport about how the 34-year-old Nyanga-born athlete was raising high the Mozambican flag was the genesis of the prodigal son’s return to the fold.
“The story was published on May 14 and my life has not been the same since that day,” revealed Sango.
“So many people called me; some were insulting me and accused me of not being patriotic because I was representing Mozambique when I was a son of the soil.
“The insults got so bad I ended up vowing not to pick up anymore calls from unsaved numbers but there is a number that kept calling and calling.” It was a senior Government official who kept calling until the 34-year-old Sango answered to end the “harrassment”.
“The top Government official, whom I can’t mention by name, asked why I was representing Mozambique instead of Zimbabwe.
“I openly told him that there’s lack of sponsorship in my mother country. I retold the story of how the Mozambicans gave me a lifeline in 2008 and how they have made me feel like one of their own.
“After a few hours he called back and revealed that he, together with his friends, had put together a package that will see me getting a fixed salary, a car, a house and other minor benefits,” said Sango.
Consequently, at Canada Open International Taekwondo Championships, running from September 28-1 October in Montreal, will be the last time Sango will have Mozambique’s flag on his dobok.
With an improved world ranking (38) after his strong performance at the World Championships in South Korea in June, the guy is oozing with confidence. “I’m highly confident that I will come back to Africa with something in my hands. I only have to improve on few things such as endurance exercises and diet,” said Sango whose world ranking prior to the championships was 76.
Sango is desperate to succeed in Zimbabwean colours.
“Even if it means visiting apostolic sect prophets then so be it, I want to make Zimbabwe proud because I am the prodigal son,” he said. “I will only be able to officially represent Zimbabwe in January but I am prepared to start training with team Zimbabwe this year because this is something I have been dying for.”
