The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Olympics have grown since inception to be the world’s biggest sporting showcase and they have become the prime target for athletes, administrators and sporting fanatics.
Excitement around the Olympics has seen many dreaming of taking part in the event and it was no different for Bulawayo Tennis Board chairman Raggs Tarwirwa Chikunichawa who set his sights on being part of this global sporting spectacle and decided to work hard to turn his dream into reality.
When the call for volunteers opened in 2014 for the Rio Olympics, Chikunichawa put in his name among those seeking to assist in the smooth hosting of the event.
He said after putting in his application he had to wait for one year before getting a reply. He got the reply at the beginning of this year that set him on the path to an experience of a lifetime that would see him rub shoulders with the who is who in the international world of tennis and also meet the sport’s super stars whom he only could watch on television.
Stars that Chikunichawa met include former world number one star Venus Williams, Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and Frenchman Gael Monfils.
“I talked to Venus on several occasions but it was nothing serious, just simple chit chat and was a bit surprised when I told her
I am from Zimbabwe and in our subsequent meetings she was calling me Zimbabwe. I also got to engage Monfils and Del Porto but it was just short conversations,” said the local tennis coach.
Being the one African in the tennis Field of Play Team initially saw Chikunichawa being looked down upon and being given periphery roles until they realised he knew what he was doing and was rewarded with a role as a ball picker in the final.
He was also given the most hard working person award in the 250 strong tennis volunteers’ corps after the Olympics.
“I was the only black person in the tennis volunteers section and most of those involved thought maybe I knew little about the sport hence they gave me cameo roles in the beginning but as the tournament progressed they realised I knew what I was doing and they gave me more duties.
“My duties mainly involved escorting the players from the lounge to the courts, then after matches to the Press conference room, preparing the lounge and placing the water and juice. At one time I was a ticket usher, showing the fans where they were supposed to sit. We did the duties on a rotational basis but one was given the leeway of choosing which section they want to specialise in,” he said.
The final was won by Andy Murray of Great Britain who beat Del Porto.
Chikunichawa, who was in Rio from 4 to 22 August, said being at the Olympics was one of the greatest experiences both as a tennis administrator and individual adding that being part of the proceedings for the final was enthralling as he was also in the spotlight.
He said while the focus was on the players being part of the big stage and knowing thousands are watching him made him feel like a superstar. As his duties ran from 2pm to 10pm, Chikunichawa made time to visit some of Rio’s tourist sites such as the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and the Copa Cabana beach, which is a very popular beach in Brazil.
He said he was impressed by the hospitality of the Brazilians despite the language barrier.
Twitter:@rasmthembo
