Story by Raynald Ngwarati
THE Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association (ZIKA) has started preparations for the Namibian Desert Storm International Development Championship to be held in Walvis Bay next month.
As part of the team-building process, ZIKA organised a tournament at Alan Wilson School in Harare this past Saturday. The event was designed to evaluate the technical skills of kickboxers across various age groups.
“We are hosting a tournament as part of the team selection process for upcoming competitions such as the Namibia Desert Storm and others. This allows us to determine which fighters are eligible to represent the country,” Master Eric Chengaose, Welfare Manager at ZIKA, said.
In 2024, renowned kickboxer Isaac Mhlanga represented Zimbabwe at Desert Storm Five alongside Royal Dengezi, with Mhlanga securing a silver medal after a fiercely contested bout.
This year, Mhlanga is aiming higher as he mentors his 11-year-old son, Ronald, who is emerging as a promising kickboxing talent both locally and internationally.
“Our struggle is to stay financially afloat, for instance, there is the upcoming Namibian Desert Storm tournament, and I need to take Ronald there, but unfortunately funding is a challenge,” Mhlanga said.
“I admire Mike Tyson and when I grow up, I want to be like him. Even now, I am trying to follow in his footsteps to elevate Zimbabwe to a higher level. I went to South Africa and won a silver medal last year in a tight battle, and I hope to emulate Mike Tyson’s career,” young Ronald said.
The 2025 edition of the Namibian Desert Storm International Development Championship will take place in Walvis Bay on 11 June and is expected to attract over 60 fighters from nine countries.
