Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a combat sport that emerged in the early 1990s is dubbed the worlds fastest-growing sport and Zimbabwe Mixed Martial Arts Association (ZMMAA) is all set to ride on the surging wave.
When it comes to MMA, all forms of combat become one. From Kickboxing, Taekwon-Do, Karate, Wrestling, Judo and Jiu Jitsu disciplines, these appeal to a diverse audience. Despite its popularity, the high impact sport had not found its way to the Southern African country untill ZMMAA become a member of the The International Mix Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF).
Now the gladiatorial spectacle is enroute to set camp in Zimbabwe. ZMMAA is working with Footprint Creative, Gymnation Fitness and Family Fitness Gym to cement the sport code in the country and facilitate its development.
“We are building from scratch, there was no infrastructure for MMA in the country, so we are partnering with the right partners whilst we are building our own infrastructure like our own gyms. We are also spreading to other provinces, it is our goal to popularise the sport and reach all provinces by end of the year, and award coaching certificates to qualified individuals.”Said the ZMMAA Secretary General, Barnabas Wayne Kademaunga.
ZMMAA recently held its first ever provincial seminar in Mutare which was attended by the associations president Felix Munyaradzi Matsitsiro, Secretary General Barnabas Wayne Kademaunga, National Head Coach Lewis Mataya and Assistant Coach Tyler Kawocha. Soon the country’s ultimate fighting association will penetrate Matabeleland and the Midlands to set up board structures and conduct coaching courses.
The seminar scheduled to take place in the Midlands is yet to be announced.
“Martial arts is gaining popularity very fast, it is the fastest-growing sport so far. Everyone knows it and we are riding on that wave, building our own infrastructure and we want to add our own sportsmen on the map. The problem is that people were training outside the country instead of training here in Zimbabwe. As ZMMAA our role is to change that and create infrastructure, as well as grassroots programs for Zimbabwe.” He added.
On 15 April, ZMMAA launched its own state-of-the- art gym at NetOne Building, Harare to further the development and reach of MMA. This publication also has it on good authority that by end of year, if all the cards are played right, ZMMAA will hold a local Championship tournament.
Kademaunga, said in the next five years, Zimbabwe would have produced a world champion contender to represent Zimbabwe at the global stage. The country already has Lewis Mataya who scooped gold in the 2022 IMMAF Africa Championships and Themba ‘The Answer’ Gorimbo who participants in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Since the birth of the Sport, Zimbabwe has not competed internationally. The Felix Munyaradzi Matsitsiro led MMA association looks to change all that.