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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
JUST at the age of 11, young female motocross rider Tanya Muzinda appears to be making a name for herself on the national scene. Recently she had a good outing at the FIM Motocross of African Nations Championships at Donnybrook.

Muzinda came seventh in the championships, beating at least four other competitors in the women’s category. The class was made up of three South Africans, five Zambians and three Zimbabweans. Tanya entered the race on an 85cc bike.

The championships attracted participants from Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and the hosts Zimbabwe. “I was competing in the ladies class and they were like twice my age so it was tough but I was happy I managed to beat some people. “Of course, I was scared because they were older than me and everyone thought I would come last but at the end I was actually seventh.

“I was very happy and proud of myself. It was my second time in the African Championships but my first to compete against women. It’s my best moment so far, racing with girls. I am used to racing against boys so it felt different. In South Africa (in 2013) I finished at 11th position out of 20 but it was against boys,” said Muzinda.

The 11-year-old had the opportunity to train under the guidance of three-time world women’s motocross champion Stefy Bau in 2013. “Working with Stefy was good, she won the world championships three times and when I heard that she was coming I thought it was a joke until we went to the airport. After the training with Stefy, I became better. It was the best thing to have ever happened to me,” said Muzinda.

Last year she got a brand new KTM bike from the then outgoing European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell’Arricia. “We need more girls to come in because it won’t be fair to compete with boys all the time. But it feels good and it helps because the boys don’t do you any favours. So I am thankful I have been doing motocross and also thankful to the boys.

“I am very thankful (for the bike) because right now I wouldn’t be where I am, I wouldn’t be riding because a bike is very expensive,” said Muzinda. Besides motocross, the young rider says she enjoys spending time in the swimming pool although she admits she is not a good swimmer.

“I like swimming but I am not a good swimmer. I do it with my cousins when I am free. I also do horse riding,”she said. She is currently running second in the national championships with about three races to go before the end of the season.

Muzinda has been shortlisted for the Zimbabwe International Women Awards’ Sportswoman of the Year award. Other nominees in the category are long-distance runners Rutendo Nyahora and Sharon Tavengwa, golfer Yolanda Mubaiwa and Teurai Chanakira.

The ZIWA awards were founded in 2013 to celebrate and recognise women who have contributed to the community in various sectors including sport. The awards will be held next month in Birmingham, UK.

Muzinda’s father, Tawanda, said he is happy with the progress his daughter has been making. “It was a great event because since Tanya started racing she had never raced the girls. “So it was actually a good experience for her but because we didn’t have the numbers for Tanya’s class to be racing on their own, the organisers said let’s just put these women together and then they can just race.

“But it wasn’t like a fun race, it was a serious race. You would see that those women were very dedicated.

“Tanya had the smallest bike because she was riding 85 and there was one 125 and most of the bikes were 250s and 450s, which are bigger bikes.

“I want to acknowledge that she did put a fine performance because they were 11 female riders so she managed to beat four other women,” Tawanda said. The proud father said they are thankful for Tanya’s nomination in the ZIWA awards as it shows that her efforts are being noticed.

“It seems like Tanya’s star keeps shining.

“Last year she got a bike and not only just a bike but she was appointed an honorary Ambassador for European Union to Zimbabwe, which is a big feat as far as a girl child is concerned,” said Tawanda.

“This year we received an email that Tanya has been shortlisted for the ZIWA awards.

“I noticed that Tanya is the youngest (nominee) there, she is 11 years old and we have got very seasoned athletes who are there but she is competing.

“So I would want to thank the ZIWA awards organisers and also Zimbabweans across the world in general that they have chosen Tanya to participate or to be nominated under that group of experienced athletes.

“It shows Tanya’s contribution to the sport in this country is being recognised.”