The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
PERSEVERANCE is defined as continuing a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure; and no one embodies that quality better than Kudakwashe Mapira.
Mapira is perseverance personified.
Now 28 years old, Mapira has known only one thing since he was six and that was that he wanted to be a professional footballer.
He was born disabled and has missing knuckles on his left hand and a missing foot on his left leg.
“It (life) has not been an easy one for me, and the road to get where I am today has been tough,” said Mapira.
“Football is my passion, I started playing it when I was six years old and have never looked back.
“This is despite the challenges that I have come across, where segregation has been my biggest obstacle,” said Mapira.
Mapira’s dalliances with the sport have included trials after trials with the closest he has come to gracing the Castle Lager Premiership being a short stint at the defunct Caps FC back in 2008.
“I played for Caps FC, thanks to Takaendesa Jongwe and Joey Antipas, who gave me that opportunity,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I could not achieve my dream of playing in the top flight because of my disability, but it’s something I do not regret.
“God’s time is always the best time,” said Mapira.
God’s time looks to have arrived, just in the nick of time.
The year 2019 has brought with it many fortunes.
Firstly, Mapira is at a stage in his life where he is comfortable in his own skin; so much that he has fully adopted his moniker “Terminator” and now proudly wears it like a badge of honour.
In May, Mapira finished as the top goalscorer at the Castle Lager Five-a-Side tournament.
“It was an amazing opportunity to come out as the top goalscorer at that tournament, as it gave me confidence going to the Homeless World Cup,” he said.
It is there that Mapira found the strength to vanquish the demons of his past, and that was largely due to his parents’ unwavering support.
“My parents have always supported me and it is through their support that I managed to reach the level I am.
“They made me feel comfortable with my condition and I am glad for their support,” said Mapira.
The Homeless World Cup also opened some previously closed doors for the Glen Norah-born football star.
He caught the eye of international media and a couple of suitors who wanted to be part of his inspiring story.
Mapira has been offered a scholarship to study sports management with an American university while South African-based side Cape Town City have been assisting the disabled footballer in different ways.
“Being there (Homeless World Cup) was a good experience for me; it opened up many opportunities for me as a player, and as an individual,” said the midfielder.
“I cannot mention the university at the moment since there’s some paperwork that still needs to finalised, but I can confirm that I have been awarded a scholarship with an American university,” he said.
Mapira hopes to help other disadvantaged and disabled kids — and has received the nod from Nigerian musician David Adedeji Adeleke popularly known as Davido and local dancehall artiste Freeman.
“It is my desire to help other disadvantaged and disabled kids and I will be setting up a foundation that will help upcoming sportspersons and artistes.
“Davido and Freeman have promised to support the foundation and the door is open for others who would want to support the foundation and help the disadvantaged and disabled,” said Mapira.
