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President Mugabe congratulates Charles Manyuchi for winning the WBC Welterweight silver belt before a meeting of the zanu-pf National Consultative Assembly in Harare yesterday. Looking on are Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane. — (Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda)

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
WORLD Boxing Council welterweight silver champion Charles Manyuchi says he has nothing to show for his efforts despite defeating highly-rated Russian opponent Dmitry Mikhaylenko last month. Addressing zanu-pf National Consultative Assembly members at the party headquarters soon after meeting President Mugabe and Amai Grace Mugabe, Manyuchi said international stars who were at par with him were millionaires yet no one recognised him even when he walked in the street of Harare.

He said such was his sad story that his Honda Fit vehicle was clamped on Thursday in the capital as he went to see Sports and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane in preparation for his meeting with the Head of State and Government.

“When international stars of the same level with me want to do their shopping at chain stores like OK shops, they first make a call that I will be coming at 1200 in the afternoon so that when he goes, the shop would be closed to allow uninterrupted shopping,” said Manyuchi.

“That is not the same with me. “I drive a Honda Fit and when I returned yesterday from Minister Hlongwane’s office my car had been clamped because I am not known by many people.” Manyuchi silenced the boisterous capacity home crowd of 27 000 fans at the DIVS Hockey Arena in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg last month.

He said the he bought a house in Chivhu with the $50 000 that he got from President Mugabe for winning the WBC welterweight bronze title in Italy by beating Italian opponent Gianculla Frezza. He said he now resided in that town.

“I want to assure you President that I put the money you gave me into good use,” he said. Manyuchi said despite the poor rewards, he was optimistic that he would win his next match against a Mexican boxer on August 27 in Harare. “I have a fight on August 27 2016. I am going to win it. Ndoda kumubhagamura munhu iyeye ndirimunyika yedu yeZimbabwe,” he said.

Hlongwane chronicled various achievements registered by Manyuchi, starting from grassroot level to the time he gained international recognition. The Minister said Manyuchi’s latest belt had been challenged by 72 boxers and they have agreed to have the fight in Harare but they were still to settle on the name of his opponent.

“The opponent should be in the top ten of these 72 boxers who have challenged him,” said Hlongwane. Hlongwane also took the opportunity to update the several successes registered by the country in several sporting disciplines that include the Warriors who qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon next year with a game to spare.