It is my first time at the Chaniana Harbor. The atmosphere is different from the other villages in the rural area of Kafue, there is a thriving fish market, women with interwoven mats on the ground full of small fish which the sun is drying and bags full of ice and fresh fish, and boats, the majority made out of wood with a traditional shape others out of more modern resins berthed at the bank of the Chaniania River, the fluvial basin of the Kafue River.
The race with arrival at the Chaniana Harbor is one of the longest, 275 the participants today with an outstanding 209 among the junior categories. The tall grass green and flourishing which used to characterize the landscape of the first races of this Never Give Up 2012 circuit, has left its place to the very tall golden grass of the dry season. Along the route many stretches are burnt, remembering a course I followed many years ago at SOAS in London, The ecology of the land in Sub Saharan Africa, I immediately thought at the ancient slash and burn agricultural tactic to burn the ground after harvesting with the idea that fire has the power to regenerate and make the land fertile for the next harvest, I was soon proven wrong by the Chaniana Coach, Ernest, also subsistence farmer in his small plot, the tall grass is burnt to find the lair of fat country rats which are then cooked on a brazier and eaten: a delicacy, I am assured!
The race is dominated by Insist Maunga, rising star of the team of Chaniana, who gave his best in the first kilometers in the attempt to win this ‘home race’. But the champion Gillias Nangwala has not let him beat him and arrived at the harbor first. This the results: among the Senior Boys first Gillias Nangwala followed by Eugene Chaambwa and Sydney Mweemba, only fourth Insist Maunga; for the Senior Girls champion was confirmed Ruth Kapempe, second Magrete Bonda who has recovered after the poor performance of her fourth race, third Eukiness Hangombwa; first Junior Boy Most Muleba followed by Gift Matimba and Best Michelo; first Junior Girl Milika Muweswa, second Ramona Muyuya and third Cynthia Hangombwa.
At the arrival the fish sellers ware giving pieces of ice to the hot runners who were sucking them avidly, some dived in the river jumping and playing in the refreshing water even though the majority remained at the bank watching the few brave friends splashing about happily, they do not know how to swim and are scared of water like many in Zambia. The swimmers between a splash and another were checking that the number written with the marker on the arm was not getting erased, they get the refreshment of tangy (a very sweet sparkling drink), Maheo (a traditional thick drink made out of maize), banana and bun, only after showing to the coach the number.
The athlete from Chipapa, Victor Musaka, was today spokesman of the Never Give Up spirit, regardless the fact that a stone had cut his foot he kept running slightly limping until the arrival assuring the seventh position in the Senior Boys category among the encouragements of his Coach Bornface who kept shouting proudly ‘This is NEVER GIVE UP!’.
Even today it was confirmed to me that the role of Sport2build and our objectives are fundamental in this Zambian society. At the arrival of Dominic, a young athlete of eight year old who until the end of 2010 could not walk because of tuberculosis of the bones which also stopped his growth so much so that today even though he runs, jumps, climbs, like all his peers, he has the height and physical build of a five year old, a group of people started laughing at him. This is the reaction which in most cases in Zambia is reserved for who because of their height, disability, or any other aspect which makes them different, does not conform to others. Sport2build wants to promote a society based on equality, respect and inclusion, encouraging through sport who like Dominic would otherwise be emarginated and excluded.