By Ranganai Dzotizei The old adage says disability is not inability and one man who will tell you that this is more than just a textbook quote is wheelchair tennis star Nyasha Mharakurwa. Mharakurwa is one special man who boasts of a wide array of talents but it’s wheelchair tennis that has propelled him to stardom. Born on April 13 1983, Mharakurwa was born with a congenital deformity, a physical abnormality that affected his legs but that has not deterred him from realising his dreams. “I am the third born in a family of five and I went to Jairos Jiri for my primary education and then to King George Memorial for my “O” Levels until I joined Founders College for my “A” levels,” Mharakurwa said. Mharakurwa, a multi-talented sportsman, had sporting artistry that saw him becoming a formidable wheelchair racer, a wheel chair basketball player and it was after he met Petros Ndlovu, his mentor during his time at Founders that he received his true calling in wheelchair tennis. “Petros asked me to try tennis and I would go on weekends practicing until I realised in 2007 that I was not that bad and that is when I undertook tennis.” Indeed he was never to regret his gamble, as in the following year he waltzed past opponents, winning three wheelchair tennis tournaments in South Africa before being selected to be part of the International Tennis Federation Development team in London, where he also reached the last 32 of the British Open. His trophy haul in the last five years has been nothing short of sensational, as he was crowned the Sportsman of the Year with a Disabity a record three consecutive times from 2008 to 2010 at the Annual National Sports Awards and being a finalist in the Sportsman of the Year category at the University of Johannesburg where he is studying for a degree in Sports Management.
Mharakurwa is one of the two Paralympians alongside sprinter Elliot Mujaji who will represent Zimbabwe at the London Paralympic Games later this month but his preparations have suffered a double whammy as he is yet to receive his list of needs from the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee. But despite the setback he is hopeful of doing well at the Games. “I have not received anything as per my needs which include wheel tyres and money amongst other necessities but I am optimistic I will do my best for the nation provided the equipment comes soon. With such a decorated career already, many wonder where this lad gets such inspiration against all odds but his greatest weapon is self-belief. “I believe in myself and I always want to set high goals for myself. Self-motivation is key to my success.” Away from his tennis and his books, the versatile tennis star, who is still single, enjoys training, watching cricket and movies. Despite such a heavy workload which includes studying, Mharakurwa also coaches tennis in pre-schools and he intends to start a project to assist disabled people to achieve their sporting dreams. “I wish to initiate a project in the future to help disabled people do more in sports. Maybe what the nation lacks is a development programme for such people to showcase what they can do and I hope I can cover that gap and start my own. “I want to pay tribute to those who have helped me reach such heights like Petros and those who help me at my university. The dream is not yet achieved though but we will get there,” he concluded. The ultimate dream might not have been realised but certainly come the end of August, he will be in London, representing the country at the Paralympic Games together with athlete Ellot Mujaji.
