Zimbabwe’s mixed martial arts (MMA) star Themba Gorimbo has taken to social media to register his anger against Sport, Arts and Recreation minister Kirsty Coventry for failing to provide him with a national flag on his kit at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Vegas 85 in the United States due to government bureaucracy.
The experienced welterweight fighter, who is nicknamed the “Answer” is one of the latest African-born fighters to join UFC after making the step up from the South Africa-based Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) and the UAE Warriors.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account (@TheAnswerMMA), which has over 42 000 followers, Gorimbo said the country’s sports sector was “dying” because Coventry is letting “her family run the department”.
“I stand by my country and love every single development happening in my country.The roads are beautiful, things are changing but only one thing. Sports is dying because we have the worst Sports minister who let her family run the department and her meetings are run by her husband,” said Gorimbo.
“(The) only way I can have Zimbabwe flag currently is this way. Every other athlete in UFC has their country flag on their fight gear accept me because ( I DONT KNOW ) The so-called Zim MMA board & SRC want me to bow down to get my flag on my kit. #kirstyworstsportsministerever.”
The United States-based Gorimbo is back in Zimbabwe after recently knocking out his Mexican opponent Pete Rodriguez in 32 seconds of their UFC fight.
Coventry could not be reached for comment.
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