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By Brian Nkiwane
EVERY athlete has a secret to success, some of it bordering on superstition.
For Precious Kachasu, world-class wheelchair tennis, basketball and javelin player, who won a silver medal for Zimbabwe at the Maputo all Africa Games last year, the secret is in her breakfast.
“It is very difficult to run the wheelchair on an empty stomach as much as it is difficult to run the wheelchair with a stomach full of starch. You have to be careful with what you eat on the match day,” she said.
“Some athletes do not worry about their diet and take heavy stuff such as sadza or even bread before a game. My breakfast comprises a portion of rice, one glass of fresh milk and either an apple or banana before taking to the field,” she said adding that light diet makes her fit to drive the wheelchair.
Indeed, the 25-year-old’s every movement with her wheelchair exudes an aura of confidence and invincibility.
Donning a yellow round neck T-shirt proudly displaying the inscription “Right to Play”, with two souvenir badges on each side that she brought from Qatar where she attended a leadership course, Kachasu curved a banana smile.
The University of Zimbabwe student had just arrived from Qatar where she attended a Youth Leadership Camp that was held from January 9-19.
“It was something else to me as I was travelling for the first time in my life. I had never dreamt of myself getting to some of these countries,” she said.
She was confident of putting everything she learnt there into practice here in Zimbabwe.
The course presented her with a chance to start learning leadership and administration skills before she retires from playing competitively, but Kachasu dismissed any chances of retiring anytime soon.
“Despite taking part in leadership courses, I am not thinking of retiring anytime soon. I had a chance to learn a number of things from the course itself and from other participants from other countries.
“I am going to engage the Paralympics committee and see if they are going to assist me in sharing what I learnt there with other athletes living with disabilities.”
Born on October 7 1986, Kachasu started playing the three sporting disciplines at a tender age as a student at Mutare Rehabilitation Centre where she represented the school in Danhiko Games.
“I have not won so many medals playing basketball, as I play for the University team but I have won a number in wheelchair tennis.
Kachasu was part of Team Zimbabwe in Mozambique last year.
“I won a silver medal at the All Africa Games that were held in Maputo last year in javelin.”
Apart from being a sport person, Kachasu is in her second year for the Bachelor of Arts Degree basing on history, war and strategic studies at the University of Zimbabwe.
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