Meet the non-terrible boxing twins

By Tariro Charandura

Born a minute apart in a remote hospital in Binga, 16 years ago, the Chikanya twins are on a million dollar mission. Known for its fish, given its proximity to the Zambezi River, Binga is rarely spoken of in sporting terms.

However, Tafara and Tinotenda Chikanya are determined to change that script. They made a bold statement at the recent National Youth Games in Hwange, winning gold and bronze medals respectively.

That feat must have made their late mother smile wherever she is.

“During our days at primary school we would always fight over everything and our mom was tired of solving our disputes.

“One day she angrily told us to join boxing and we took up that suggestion because it gave us a chance to see who the better fighter between us was,” revealed Tafara.

Tafara, who is also a junior Member of Parliament for Binga, added that boxing also scores the twins some points at school.

“No one dares to cross the path of a boxer at school and the girls seem to love boys who have six packs and look manly.

“However, that is not our biggest motivation. We want to be world champions and earn millions of dollars,” he said. For Tinotenda success at the Youth Games is a sign that they are onto something at their modest gym.

“We only have small tournaments back in Binga and sometimes we wonder if what we are doing is the correct thing,” he said.

“However, coming to such a competition and winning medals gives us so much encouragement.

“We are trained by coach Tagara Kufa, who is also the gym owner, and we are grateful for all that he has done for us.”

Interestingly, the Chikanya brothers were not the only boxing twins on show at the rebranded Youth Games. Nyasha and Rumbidzai Phiri, who are coached by former Commonwealth champion Arifonso Zvenyika, were also in the mix.

And just like the Chikanya boys, the Phiri girls joined boxing just for fun. “Coach Arifonso came to our school, St Peter’s High School, to introduce boxing but no girls went for registration.

“We then decided to register to see what other girls would say,” said Nyasha who was unfortunately disqualified in the earlier rounds.

Rumbidzai walked away with a silver medal and reckons more and more girls will take up boxing as a result of their Youth Games outing.

“A number of girls are now reporting for boxing training at Stodart Hall after watching us training and fighting. “Our popularity has also soared in the streets and we want to use that influence to get more and more girls involved in the sport,” she said.

Zvenyika was impressed by the passion shown by his starlets and revealed that to him it’s not the medals that matter most.

“Boxing is a sport which instills discipline and if it keeps the children from drugs and premarital sex then let them join,” he said.

“Apart from seeking to produce champions we are also out to mould a responsible citizen, a person who will make a positive difference in the community.” The Sunday Mail