Stars dream big
The New Year has brought with it new resolutions for some Malawian sports stars who have set for themselves lofty performance bars, hoping to scale new heights and bring smiles on fans’ faces.
While most sports codes thrive on team-work, success is usually built around exceptional individual performers; hence, local sports will register success if these stars achieve their 2012 goals. But for the athletes to achieve their goals, it requires more than words.
The domestic sports stars are dreaming big; from netball phenomenon, Mwawi Jacinta Kumwenda to emerging boxing great, Isaac ‘Golden Boy’ Chilemba. Flames star defender James ‘Shareholder’ Sangala is also dreaming big just like fancy midfielder Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo and basketball star Hope Chisamanga.
Marathon king Henry Moyo too has lofty ambitions. He is on three-month training at his Zomba base determined to improve on last year’s record when he won the 66-kilometre Mangaung Marathon in Kwazulu Natal, finished eighth in Two Ocean Marathon in Cape Town, but failed to finish the Comrade Marathon.
“I have never won the 90-kilometre Comrade Marathon and that is my target. For me to do it, I first have to defend the Mangaung gold. I am working on endurance. I have also increased my distance of training,” said the 39-year-old police officer who also won the Heroes Marathon in 2008.
The Escom Sisters shooter, Kumwenda, received a perfect New Year present. Australian Victoria Netball League (VNL) side Peninsula Waves have offered her a new six-month contract. Studying marketing is her other goal when she returns to Australia later this month.
“I want to use my time in Australia as a springboard for a move to big teams. To achieve this, I will work hard and remain focused,” said the 22-year-old who won VNL’s Best Shooter Award last year.
For the first Malawian football export to Angola’s Premier League, Sangala, the year 2012 presents him a chance to right wrongs of last season when he was, among others, derailed by shoulder injuries.
“My target is to play at least 80 percent of games. Last season, I missed seven first-round games due to the injury. I picked two consecutive red cards which kept me out of four games. I also fell out with the coach who has since been replaced,” said the Primeiro de Agosto man, citing determination as key to realising his dream.
For Mighty Wanderers’ Kamwendo, who is trying his luck at an unnamed Turkish side, his dream remains securing a return to Europe where he first played for Danish Super League side Norrdsjaelland in 2005. He believes maturity will be vital for his length of stay in Europe.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) International champion Chilemba won three fights, two of which were non-title bouts last year. With top American promoter Dibella Entertainment, he believes the sky will not be the limit in 2012.
“I should be leaving for America in a few weeks. My New Year resolution is to make a name in America and let people appreciate my talent. I believe the rest will fall in place. I also want to win more fights through knock-outs. I am working much on power punching,” said the Malawian boxer yesterday in a telephone interview from his South African base.
National team and Magang’a off-guard Hope Chisamanga said he will work hard on fitness to help his Southern Zone Basketball League side either to “win a regional title or national one. But it is difficult to achieve that without team work.”
According to an article on the Internet titled How to Make the Best New Year’s Resolutions88, Jeannieina Bottle advises that for the resolutions to be attainable, one must create a list, standards have to be lowered and one must have fun.
