Vitalis Chikoko named Coupe de France MVP for seco...

Vitalis Chikoko named Coupe de France MVP for second year running

Patience Muchemwa

Zim Now Reporter

Zimbabwean basketball sensation Vitalis Chikoko has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming a two-time Most Valuable Player of the French Cup (Coupe de France).

As the captain of the Zimbabwe national team, Chikoko has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and leadership, making him a role model for aspiring athletes across the continent.

Chikoko says he MVP gong for the second year running comes after 11 years of determination and focus.

"For me it’s a mark in my career to prove that hard work pays off and that everything is a work in progress. Nothing happens overnight. I have been playing professional basketball for over a decade now, and my biggest accolade came in my 11th career year. I am grateful God’s timing is the best."

The french LNB Pro A league ranks in the top 10 of best and competitive leagues in the world.

Chikoko feels that he is now a bit too old to join NBA, but his wish is to create opportunities for young Zimbabweans to join the big league.

"Of course it’s not as big as the NBA, and we even use FIBA rules, which are different from the NBA. I once had a shot at NBA when l went for the NBA draft in 2013 but l had a couple of things working against me at the time, mainly a knee injury so l was not drafted in the end.

"Realistically, l might be a little older for NBA, but l do hope to create opportunities for other young Zimbabweans to make it to the NBA."

Chikoko's words of wisdom offer a potent reminder of the importance of preparation and perseverance in the pursuit of success. His journey from Zimbabwean courts to the French Cup MVP award is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication.

For budding basketball players, Chikoko's advice is a rallying cry to persist in honing their skills, remain focused on their goals, and, above all, never forget the role of faith in fueling their dreams.

"When preparation meets opportunity, you become unstoppable. So, in the meantime, prepare, prepare, and prepare so that when your moment comes, it finds you ready. Never give up in the process of preparing. In all you do, always put God first."

Chikoko believes that the path to a thriving basketball scene in Zimbabwe lies in fostering strong ties with corporate sponsors and investing in the local league. The presence of the BAL-NBA AFRICA has already infused a spirit of competition among local teams, driving them to excel and, in turn, attract more attention from potential sponsors.

"I understand that our local Zimbabwean league has been more of an amateur league, so it didn’t have a lot of buy-in from sponsors. However, the coming in of BAL -NBA AFRICA has seen a great improvement on how the local league is run because every team is vying for the top spot to qualify for the BAL. So with more marketing and proffessionalisation of the league, we can get more sponsors and grow the sport because we have a lot of talent that can competitively participate on regional and international levels."

Chikoko touchingly reveals how his family is his pillar of strength as he adapts to life away from Zimbabwe. While the initial separation from home was a challenge, the affection and companionship of his wife and children act as a soothing balm, reminding him of the comfort and warmth of his roots.

"It was really hard in the beginning especially when l was a bachelor but now l have my beautiful wife and my two beautiful kids so l have most of what l need with me. We do get homesick (together) but it’s manageable. We go home once every year, so that helps."

Chikoko and his wife, in a playful, multicultural symphony, are passing down a rich linguistic heritage to their children. While the tug-of-war between dialects may yield a changing landscape of influences, the children, as custodians of this diverse tapestry, are being nourished by the wealth of languages that form a thread of cultural identity and connectivity.

"My son goes to an all-French school, so he speaks and understands French. At home, we speak both Shona and English, so he speaks and understands both languages as well. We have a challenge of dialects, my wife muVhitori and l am muZezuru, so sometimes we ‘fight’ about which dialect to teach him (e.g, bhutsu or shangu Ha ha ha)…but he spends most of the time with my wife, so chiVhitori seems to win most times. My daughter is only 7 months old but we communicate with her in English, Shona and French."

The relocation to Europe had an undeniable impact on his wife, the award winning actress Nyaradzo Mhongonhema's acting career, but her resilience and creativity shown through embracing the opportunities in her new environment, she turned to creating content, leveraging her husband as a 'talent' and utilizing her trips home to fuel her artistic expression.

Chikoko shares his admiration of her determination to bring Zimbabwean stories to life, wherever life may take her.

"The move affected her, but as a creative person, she has found a way to make do with the situation that she has here in Europe. She has been working on creating content – sometimes using me as her talent ha ha ha. “Every time we come home, she uses the time to create something. For example, 911 Munodeyi, a web series available on YouTube, which is one of my favorite of her works. She has mostly been doing some writing."