When I first came to Zambia, seven years ago, it was said that the first rain comes for
Independence Day, the 24th October, this year in Kafue we are exactly a month late, there have been a couple of showers but nothing more. Today it is very hot, just after a couple of kilometers we see many athletes with the t-shirt in the hands and the sweat coming down from face and chest. The clouds are there but striking, when the wind pushes them under the sun they gift us a few minutes of shade which allows the boys and girls to breath. Like always when we arrive in Chaniana a lot of people comes at the sides of the road to cheer and offer water, Insist Maunga, home idol, was cheered along non-stop in the last kilometers which from the school take to the fishers’ port on the Kafue River. Insist, a program just in the name, runs with us since the beginning in the Juniors he was always among the first ones, now he is a constant presence in the first ten of the Seniors, where though he still misses the victory. His best race of the year was the test for the first Lusaka Marathon of next Saturday where he showed unexpected resistance which leaves us hoping for the best.
Today’s race was also a test for the participants to the first Lusaka Marathon, as the coaches were preparing late the list of the called up, I met more than once the eyes of a short an quite sturdy boy, who was looking at me as if to say ‘call me up’ … that face which reminds the stones of Easter Island was familiar … but I could not remember who he was … ‘What is your name?’ … ‘Chinyata’ … ‘Gosh it is him!’ … that child who with the first Never Give Up t-shirt … like Insist he grew up with us, but differently from Insist he grew up slowly always among the firsts but not the very firsts, always receiving a prize in the final ceremonies, but hardly ever in the single races, he held strong … so also as a recognition to have been, even without knowing, the image of the early Never Give Up I called him up for the 10 km … to thank me he did the race of his life arriving seventh!
To Lusaka we will take 29 athletes, 9 in the marathon and 20 in the 10 km, 12 females and 17 males. The registration fee is quite high for an average Zambian, and impossible for those coming from the rural areas like our precarious of the running, the very high prices make the eyes sparkle for those like Eugene Chaambwa dominate even this race without a blink of an eye, staying behind the group for the first kilometer holding the hand of a young friend. Behind him the rock like john Tembo, followed by the raising star Paul Kazembe noticed by the national team.
A special mention to ‘Americano’, registered Jameson Chulu, him too runs with us since a long time ago, five minutes after the race he is already wearing suit and tie, he always manages to pocket one of the last prizes, he reminds me one of those boxers who fights until 45 years old to take home the bread. He wanted to register to the marathon … he told me ‘Do they give prizes to the first 10? … Ok I can make it the secret is not to let too many people run away in front of me …’ … surprise us and fight Americano!
Among the Juniors the three terrible from Chikupi dictated: Ackim Mwanza, Best Michelo and Gift Matimba occupied the first three places of the podium. Among the girls Ramona Muyoya, Silvia Malaila and Mercy Kapempe. The Senior girls is the category with the lower level for the reasons I explained in the previous post. This is proved by the fact that this year dominating is Milika Mwesa, winner of the last year among the Juniors, behind her the sisters Eukiness and Cynthia Hangombwa.
We will group Thursday afternoon, so we will have time to go pick up those affected by panic attacks, who forgot, those kept by the parents for domestic tasks … we will travel Friday night to Lusaka because the marathon starts at 6! … and the 10 kilometers at 7 … unthinkable for my biorhythms!