FNF brings ray of hope for Mukarakate's underprivi...

FNF brings ray of hope for Mukarakate's underprivileged boys and girls

Gilbert Munetsi

Simbarashe Nyanyiwa rolls down the car window from his passenger's seat to point to a familiar spot.

This is a few metres from the meandering dust road. The gesture intended is for his co-travellers to appreciate the history associated with this barren patch of ground.

"That's where we would rest a bit to light a fire so we could warm our freezing hands during winter, before trudging on to Mutize in time to beat the 7am bell.

"In essence, the distance between home and school was 7km one way, and if you do your math right, you will realise that by the time we came to the end of the term, we would have covered the equivalent of the Harare-Johannesburg stretch."

"Life back then was never a bed of roses. One needed ten-fold the effort our counterparts in the city were putting to make it academically," he reminisces, lost in thought as he gazes back at the dark, abysmal passages of time.

Last Friday, Nyanyiwa - in the company of five acquaintances and friends from Harare - returned to Mutize Primary School in the Mukarakate area of Murehwa District for a soccer tournament organised to motivate the rural child.

Now a health consultant who has had the opportunity to work for prestigious institutions like the Clinton Foundation, Nyanyiwa left behind an academic record at Mutizaa that has not yet been matched.

His records stand at four units from four subjects in Grade 7, and seven As and two Bs at Ordinary Level which are impressive at any school but really outstanding when attained at poorly resourced rural schools.

Thanks to a scholarship, Nyanyiwa was able to enrol at the University of Zimbabwe from where he graduated with a Social Work degree.

The 40-year old father of three has since had the privilege to travel the world by air.

However, his is not the only success story from Mutize. Others who managed to break the vicious cycle include Godfrey Chimuti, a senior government official, Armstrong Horiro, a deputy school head at a school in Mashonaland East province, Maidei Mukarakate, a senior banker and Kuda Horiro an army officer.

Now to bring to the fore more potential, the Forward Nyanyiwa Foundation is providing various platforms to ensure that more Mutize stars get to shine.

The foundation was started out of the vision of Simbarashe's elder brother now based in Dublin, Ireland, and carries the name of its founder.

Last week the foundation organised a soccer and netball tournament at Mutize Primary School.

The objective, apart from ploughing back, was to help expose talent among the young boys and girls, with prospects of them being identified by scouts for possible absorption into academies.

It is evident life has not moved an inch from the time Simbarashe and Forward battled and beat the odds more than two decades ago.

Pupils still walk the same distance, the roads are pain for motorists and Mukarakate Business Centre, still yearns for electric power.

The fact that pupils from six neighbouring schools - Karimazondo, Chimhau, Gumbanjera, Jekwa, Chinhenga and the host, Mutize - trooped in for this first sports fiesta speaks volumes about their desire to use sport as a tool that will make it possible for them to one day be able to live a better life too.

The Nyanyiwa brothers are products of a broken home following the separation of their parents when they were still very young. They became the grass that suffered after their mother and father divorced, finding themselves put into the custody of their matrimonial grandmother.

"It has always been my dream to reshape and bridge society to make everyone at par.

"As the founder, my wish is to bring a smile and happiness to the most disadvantaged child.

"It is undisputable that we have natural talent in academics and sport, in the outlying areas of our country that needs to be tapped.

"I will help harness such talent for the future benefit of the same community in line with the national vision of leaving no one behind."

"I call upon all like-minded individuals, corporates and other institutions to come on board and complement the FNF strides to assist the village boy and girl.

"My dream is to see a classless society in Mukarakate, a community with no rich or poor but a uniform community that will thrive on helping the next person and household alike," said Nyanyiwa in an interview from Dublin.

In the boys' soccer final that bore all the makings of a derby, Chinhenga beat Mutize by a goal to nil to scoop the floating trophy, a new kit, soccer ball and stationery.

A netball replay was ordered after participating finalists could not agree on the tournament rules.

Prizes were also given for the player of the tournament, top goal scorer and most disciplined team.

Coach of the winning team (Chinhenga Primary School), Cleton Tangwadzana, attributed the victory to hard work and determination.

"We came into this tournament as underdogs because we are a very small institution with a very limited pool of players.

"But l told my boys to allay all fears and adopt the David-meets-Goliath mentality, which they went on to execute to emerge victorious.

"We are on cloud nine to be the pride of Mukarakate and hope to defend out title at the next tournament," he said.

Guest speaker Chief Mangwende (Tichafa Chibanda) showered the organisers with lots of praises, underscoring the need for beneficiaries to uphold discipline.

"This platform that has been created for you will lure scouts to come and identify the potential in you. But they will shy away once they observe you lack in discipline because it's a prerequisite for total sportsmanship.

"Even the sponsor would not want to see their good brand soiled as a result of lack of discipline hence my appeal to you all to ensure you are not found wanting in this very critical area," he said.

Established a year ago, the FNF seeks to better the lives of school-going boys and girls from Mukarakate, particularly in the areas of academia and sport.

Forward Nyanyiwa said in an interview there are plans afoot to host a quiz and essay competition, as well as a social barbacue that will make it possible for past students to meet and discuss development.

Last year the Mukarakate folk were entreated to musical entertainment by Progress Chipfumo and radio presenters Ndumiso "Skywalker" and T-flow courtesy of FNF.

A steering committee to spearhead forthcoming FNF activities has since been put in place with former Mutize scholars Godfrey Chimuti, Armstrong and Kuda Horiro and (Simba) Nyanyiwa among those making it up.

Yet another sports event has been earmarked for August at Mukarakate Business Centre where senior officials from the Education and Sports Ministries as well as the local leadership will be invited to render moral support.