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GOING PLACES . . . Young biker Emmanuel Bako is caught in a jovial mood yesterday as he prepares to leave for Gaborone, Botswana, where he will be part of Team Zimbabwe for this weekend’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships

Collin Matiza and Takudzwa Chitsiga
AFTER representing Zimbabwe twice at the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships, talented young rider Emmanuel Bako is determined to carry the country’s flag high at the latest edition of the continental event in Gaborone, Botswana, this weekend.

Bako (10), a Grade Six pupil at Mai Grace Mugabe Junior School in Mazowe, was once again picked to be part of Team Zimbabwe for this year’s African Championships after having first made his debut appearance in the prestigious continental event in Kitwe, Zambia, in 2014 when he was even smaller and just a seven-year-old kid, riding in the 50cc Class.

He then earned his second national colours the following year when the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships were hosted by Zimbabwe at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare where he was part of nine young riders who represented the country in the 50cc Class during that event.

And now Bako is this weekend set to make his third appearance in the tough annual African Championships which attracts top junior and senior male and female riders from eight countries – Angola, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Bako, who has since graduated from being a 50cc racer to a 65cc Class rider, was this week named in the strong 21-member Zimbabwe team who, from yesterday, were expected to cross the border to compete in the 2017 FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships (MXOAN), which will take place at the weekend at Mmamashia near Phakalane in Gaborone, Botswana.

He will represent Zimbabwe in the 65cc Class with fellow exciting young rider Daiyaan “Dee” Manuel and was yesterday confident of doing well in the two-day event which will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

Speaking to The Herald just before he left Harare for Gaborone accompanied by his father Brighton “Bucks” Bako and trainer Stanley Mugiyo, Emmanuel said he was determined to do his best and improve from his 2015 outing which saw him finishing third overall in the 50cc Class.

“I think I am more than prepared for this event after having first taken part in it in Zambia in 2014 and back here at home in 2015. I am geared up and looking forward to come out first this time around after practicing so hard for this year’s event. I have so far managed to take part in six events (this year) which I did well so my practice was perfect.

“I have so far managed to take part in three nationals and three club competitions, winning two of them in the 65cc Class,” Emmanuel said.

He said his bike was also in good condition and is hopeful it will help him to emerge victorious in Gaborone at the weekend. “The bike is performing well and I hope we won’t have the sandy tracks again this time around like the experience I had in Francistown sometime ago.

“There will be some stiff competition of course and we will be using a multi-track unlike here where we use a single track,” Emmanuel said. His trainer Mugiyo also expressed some confidence that his protege will do well at the two-day continental event in Gaborone this weekend.

“It is one of the biggest races on the continent and doing well there will see us gain more confidence. We expect to do well in Gaborone and I think the competition is just the same as the one we experience in South Africa where we have been racing for most of this year. “We have improved a lot after taking part in some nationals in South Africa and coming out with respectable positions,” said Mugiyo.

Emmanuel’s father, Brighton, said the rest of Team Zimbabwe members are also expected to do well in Gaborone despite many participants pulling out due to financial challenges.

“Several athletes had financial challenges and we are taking a few guys than expected but we are hopeful that we will do well. Most of the guys who were supposed to be part of Team Zimbabwe for this event will no longer be travelling but we hope we will do well.

“It was not easy for most of our guys with Kuda Mhene (Jnr) pulling out at the last minute but I believe with Manu and Daiyaan Manuel we will be able to get the points.

“We are also grateful to the Grainger Racing Club KTM who have managed to send some athletes and I believe we can challenge continental heavyweights South Africa,” Brighton said.

Prohibitive costs of taking part in the African Nations Championships where participants are meeting all the expenses for the Gaborone competition have had a huge bearing in a number of top local junior and senior riders who have opted out of this weekend’s event.