One of the top academic institutions, Mother Touch Group of Schools hosted successful athletes such as African Boxing Union champion, Aliyah Phiri, Lady Chevrons all-rounder Francisca Chipare and volleyball national team vice-captain Tavonga Hwara for their career day at their Selous campus last week.
The athletes were sharing their journeys to successful sport careers with the students at the school.
Traditionally known for its impressive academic record Mother Touch Group of School has taken a deliberate approach to raise the bar in terms of sport and have incorporated top sports administrator Nyasha Kadenge in their school management.
Mother Touch chief executive officer, Salome Mutsinze, said the objective of the event was to expose students to various career paths in sport.
“Today we have assembled an impressive lineup of successful sports professionals from the sporting sector to share their experiences, their successes and insights on this career day. Our event’s objective included exposure of our students to the various career paths in sport, provide first hand knowledge from the industry experts and inspire the students to explore their passions and talents,” she said.
“As Mother Touch Group of Schools we recognise the value of sport in shaping a well-rounded individual. Sport instills discipline. I listened to the successful young sport persons here trying to explain this word called discipline. For you to be successful in life it’s about discipline and time management that is being able to balance your school work and your sport. Sport provides a gateway to diverse and rewarding career opportunities,” Mutsinze added.
In her presentation Chipare, who is now a holder of a degree in Wildlife, Ecology, and Conservation, emphasised the need for students to balance sport and education.
“It’s possible to do both sports and academics. Sport is a short career and you earn during your peak, which could be about 10 years. That career can be cut short by injury so you need a fall-back plan and education is key in that aspect,” she said.
- Mother Touch School hosts top athletes on career day
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Phiri, who is set to defend his ABU lightweight title in November, also shared his story of rising from the dusty streets of Hatcliffe to become an African champion.
“Nothing is impossible in life, you just need to have a heart and believe in yourself. I am here to inspire the students and assure them that with sport you can scale dizzy heights.
“I was not academically gifted but through hard work I am making a living out of boxing. Boxing is a multi-million-dollar sport and when the time comes, I will also earn big dollars,’’ Phiri said.
Hwara is doing his tertiary education at Harare Polytechnic and spoke about how volleyball opened doors for him to go to school for free.
“Because of sports I have never paid school fees since I finished grade seven. I have been going to school on scholarships and some of the best schools in the country,” he revealed.
A new campus in Selous already has state-of-the-art facilities including basketball and tennis courts and a swimming pool.
The Mother Touch basketball and baseball teams are set to tour the United States on a sport exchange programme next year.
This year, nine of their students from the school were part of the Zimbabwe team which took part in the Baseball Five World Cup Regional qualifiers in South Africa and won a silver medal.
