Brian Dzingai
It's been a crazy few days for, the strange state of affairs in Zimbabwe
continues, millions upon millions are being given to organisations and
individuals that have patently failed while the average man or woman is
struggling to hold on to their jobs let alone get a raise. The story that has
stuck with me is that of Zimbabwe's top athlete Brian Dzingai has pledged his allegiance
to Bahrain (I honestly had to open a map to see where in the Middle East to
find its exact location. We keep on though with a look of incredulity on our
faces and a despairing shrug. We can only do what we do and do it well.
It is impossible for me not to compare him to Kirsty Coventry. In a time
when our country is literally on its knees and millions of kids are looking for
some inspiration these two contrasting stories unfold. Coventry has with a
simple dignity held the Zimbabwean flag aloft despite the gross violation of
the rights of people who share the same colour of skin she does in Zimbabwe.
Dzingai is now or soon to be a Bahamian (sic). Right know I identify more with
Coventry and feel the same sense of pride when I see a picture of her that I do
when I see the famous picture of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Mexico
Olympics.
Kirsty Coventry
I get Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati and Tonderai Chavhanga playing for the
Springboks, our own national team is not in any position to accommodate their
special talents. Rugby is a team sport and the guys are in many ways flying the
flag for Zim in the green and gold. I don't get why a guy who baring the
freakish Husain Bolt had already made it to the top of his sport and had done
his country proud decides to switch allegiance, perhaps someone can explain it
to me.
Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira
I have always looked on in with dismay as African athletes have switched
countries to represent countries with all the money in the world but seemingly
without the ability to produce top athletes. It seems to me to be the business
of buying and selling souls. There is no doubt in my mind that the mismanagement
that seems to abound in organised sport in Africa is partly to blame but there
is something to be said about the strength of character of our people.
George Weah, former FIFA World Player of the year paid out millions of his
own money to prop up the national team of Liberia during some of the darkest
times in his country. He captained his national team with a great sense of
dignity and honour during this time, paying for the privilege. Today hardly a
tournament goes by without some African country being involved in a row over
bonus payments. This in a time where most of these players earn hundreds of
thousands of pounds playing in the top leagues in the world. On the one hand
they are right to demand that corrupt officials stick to the agreements they
have made with the players but on the other hand there is something utterly
undignified about it all.
George Weah
As for Brian Dzingai, I am incredibly proud of your achievements as an
Athlete and a Zimbabwean. I always will be the guy who whenever anyone shows me
a picture of the Olympic 200m final who will point you out and proudly say,
"that guy right there, is Zimbabwean!" I am however saddened by your
decision not to represent your country anymore as I am sure there are thousands
if not millions of other Zimbabweans. To the authorities in Bahrain who no
doubt made the offer to Brian you should hang your heads in shame for there is
no dignity or honour in what you have done.
I leave you with the words of Dr Martin Luther King, words that inspire me
and I hope will inspire you
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of
challenge and controversy"
Peace and Luv always!