Ngqwele Dube, SPORTS WRITER
SEVERAL siblings have taken to similar sport codes and achieved great success in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Talk of tennis and one remembers the Black family, Wayne, Byron and Cara while in football the Ndlovu family, Madinda, late Adam and Peter emerged to illuminate the soccer scene while in cricket Andy and Grant Flower reached the higher echelons of the gentleman’s game.
What has stood out is that their entry into sport started at a young age and two siblings in Bulawayo are already making a mark in the junior swimming ranks and dream of making it big in the sport.
11-year-old Siqokoqela (Junior) and Senamile (12) Mphoko are making waves in the group ages with awe inspiring performances and have set their sights on becoming a force to reckon with in swimming.
Having joined Stingrays Swimming Academy three years ago, they have managed to grow into the sport and are slowly establishing themselves as future hopefuls in the sport.
Their father, Siqokoqela Mphoko said the siblings began swimming at a tender age although it was not competitive.
“As toddlers they showed a lot of affinity for water and when we sent them to nursery school they started having swimming lessons and that is when their passion got ingrained.
“When they started their primary school as parents we felt we had to get them into a sport as part of teaching them how to focus and also the need to understand hard work and discipline. Choosing swimming for them was one of the easiest choices we have made because they already showed love for the sport,” he said.
Mphoko said they decided to register them with an academy so they learn the sport better and improve their skills and they found a welcoming and conducive environment at Stingrays which has seen them blossoming in their early careers.
The swimmers underlined their potential last year when they dominated their age groups and won the Bulawayo Amateur Swimming Association senior championships individual age groups.
They went on to make the junior team representing the province at the National Junior Championships that were held at Petra Primary School a fortnight ago and they did not disappoint emerging second respectively in their age categories.
At the junior nationals, Siqokoqela amassed 34 points to cone second behind Harare’s Christian Ziemann who had 44 points in the 11 year old boys category while Daryl Chiyangwa, also of Harare was third with 30 points.
Senamile was also second with 36 points behind Harare’s Alexis Johnson who took 43 points with Ruvarashe Choto also of Harare coming in third with 30 points.
She took silver in the 50m backstroke and 100m individual medley, in both instances being beaten to the gold by Johnsen.
The Girls College pupil also clinched two silver medals in relay events.
Senamile took gold in the 50m butterfly clocking 34.22 seconds ahead of Choto who touched the pad at 34.94 seconds and Mbali Sibanda who was third three milliseconds later.
Siqo took gold in the 100m individual medley with Zieman coming closely second and Bulawayo’s Watipa Zvenyikwa clinched the bronze medal.
The Whitestone Primary School pupil also won silver in the 50m freestyle, 100m medley relay, 50m butterfly while taking another gold in the 100m freestyle relay.
Sena, who broke a Girls College inter-house record in the 100m breaststroke on the eve of the National Junior Championships, said she is aiming at working harder and coming improving her swimming.
Siqokoqela believes in focusing on the sport and being disciplined will assist him achieve greater heights in the sport.
“I would say going to Stingrays assisted us a lot with (the late Eddie) Cyprianos playing a crucial role in grooming the kids and instilling in them a sense of discipline and competitiveness.
“They learnt well from him and they are still learning more from the club which has distinguished itself over the past three years clinching the Bulawayo Amateur Swimming Association junior and senior titles during the same period.
“I believe the future is bright for the kids and we will keep on encouraging them to work hard,” said the senior Mphoko, who built a 25m pool at their home to ensure the children have easy access to continuous training.
