Acacia Taekwondo Club To Compete In Eswatini

By Desire Tshuma

Acacia Taekwondo Club has nominated two youngsters to represent Zimbabwe in July for the martial arts competitions in Eswathini, the first time the event is held in that land.

Acacia Taekwondo Club was established in 2018 in Marondera and has so far been joined by 18 children from as young as ECD A up to Advanced Level ages.

The club is situated in Marondera with parents and the entire community embracing the initiative as it gives children discipline and self defence. Preparations for this massive international competition are at an advanced stage as there shall be a training on the 10th of June at Marondera Hotel.

Speaking to this publication Ishmael Mlambo (pictured), the founder and director of Acacia Teakwondo Club said he decided to establish this sporting discipline in his home town so as to keep children occupied and to eliminate the scourge of drug abuse amongst youth and other criminal activities that are done by the youngsters.

“Youths are leaders for tomorrow, we should preserve their future and this is possible if the family, community, independent organizations and the government work together. The President declared that no-one should be left behind in all developmental issues for the prosperity of the country, so I have devoted myself to support the President’s mantra,” said the youthful Mlambo.

” This sporting activity helps a girl child from rapists and robbers as she develops physical fitness to defend herself. Children grow up physically and mentally fit with this sport.”

The club has been in several regional countries like Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi and they are looking forward to travel to South Korea and South Africa before the end of this year. The vision of Mlambo is to commercialize the sporting activity so that these children when they grow up they may own their martial arts academies and start getting income.

Mlambo is a holder of First Dan Black Belt which he acquired from the University of Kukion in South Korea which is the biggest university of marshall arts in South Korea.

“I would like to conclude by giving thanks to the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Honourable Tino Machakaire who has been very supportive financially in his personal capacity. Honourable Machakaire through his personal company, Tin Mac Motors has been assisting Acacia Taekwondo Club since its inception. We have also been sponsored by Prime Energy and not forgetting to mention our local Member of Parliament for Marondera Central Hon Cleopas Kundiona.”

The two nominated children for the Eswatini competition are Lovemore Junior Mugabe an ECD B child who is four years old and Elizabeth Mukuwa , a nine year old girl who is doing Grade 5.

This publication managed to talk to some parents who have their children at Acacia Teakwondo Club who expressed sincere gratitude.

“My child is well behaved, I would like to encourage other parents to take their children to this martial arts academy,” said Mrs Mugabe, a parent to one of the two Eswatini competition nominees.