On 25th May 2012 the second race of the 12th Never Give Up, from Kabwesa to Chikupi, took place.
The sun is shining, the rain season has been over for more than a month and the roads have by now lost even the last drop of humidity, where there were slimy puddles of unidentifiable depth, there are now pot holes of a moonlike landscape. Who will not gain the first positions will eat some dust, I think as I approach the start on my motorbike, we are entering the Zambian winter, and although in Lusaka the hippest shops are selling coats and hats suitable for an arctic exploration, a T-shirt and shorts are the perfect attire and after all, if we had the possibility, even a splash about in a swimming pool would be more then welcomed.
As usual, we start off in front of the Kabwesa Primary School to reach the Chikupi Vocational School. Present at the first race were less than 200 athletes, but today as foretold by the senior coach Bornface Tembo the number has risen to 298! The majority are Juniors, about 230 under 12 year of age. From a fast count we realize that 10 drinks and Maheu (a non-alcoholic maize drink) are missing for the final refreshment! We were pessimists! We remedy by buying the missing drinks from a kantemba (a small shop where to buy the essential) in Chikupi at almost double the price.
Over the years the start of the races have been delayed, if we keep this trend up the next Never Give Up will end up becoming an afternoon event! The desire to start, compete and contend with school friends, siblings is tangible and the juniors start both female and male is always spectacular, the fight for the first positions is tough, the runners take advantage of the all width of the road, two fall down but get up fast, a girl loses her number turns back to get it and rushes fast chasing the others at triple the speed. I am happy because these children are great promises, they do not give up and have probably began to understand the meaning of Never Give Up. Message which has certainly been assimilated by Winnie and Dominic. The first is an 11 year old girl who two years ago suffered from TB of the bones, today for the first time she completed this 7km dusty race with her limping pace finishing fifth to last without ever stopping to run not even for a meter. Last year Winnie used to watch a bit sad the others running while leaning on her blue and orange clutches. Dominic Kabanje is a 7 year old boy, even though he has the physical development of a 5 year old, in 2010 he used to move only on his hands him too victim of TB of the bones, today he ran with determination fighting tooth and nail to keep up with a small group of boys whose stride was double his and reached the arrival 70th over 140. Congratulations to them both!
For the record among the Senior Boys the much-decorated Gillias Nangwala has triumphed, followed after a distance by Sydney Mweemba and Lucky Kazembe. For the Junior Boys, first victory for Most Mulebe, who came first followed by Ackim Mwanza and Frighten Mwemba. Among the Senior Girls, narrow victory for Ruth Kapempe, Magrete Banda second and Faides Mulyata third. Among the Junior Girls Milika Muweswa has triumphed over Ramona Muyuya and Sara Njobvu.
At the arrival, drinks, buns and bananas for all and nkanga (guinea fowls) for the 6 coaches who with their commitment keep this event alive in a way which is sadly rare in the Zambian reality. Because of circumstances beyond our control the next race ran on the Mungu circuit, will take place next Saturday and not in two weeks time to give the possibility to support Zambia in the World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
Until the next time.
Matteo Sametti