-as Muzenda Foundation inspires the girl child
NYASHADZAISHE RUSHWAYA
MASVINGO CITY-They say dynamite comes in small packages, but upcoming Masvingo golf ace Mirriam Masiya has proved the adage wrong as she has set her sight to be the next golf sensation.
At the age of 14, golf upcoming ace, Mirriam has travelled all over the world and won more trophies than some seasoned golfers in the country such that if there was a hall of fame for golf in the country, her name would be among the female luminaries.
The Midweek Watch caught up with the promising talent at the iconic Masvingo Golf Club where she started her career with her father, Richard Masiya who doubles up as her coach since childhood together with her elder sister, Mordester Masiya who is also a prolific golf player in her own right.
Mirriam started playing golf at Don Bosco Primary School in Mucheke, Masvingo City while doing grade 1 and she has never looked back since then as she has gone on to excel in every tournament that she has taken part in, chief among them being the Simon Muzenda Invitational Golf which is held every year.
“She has participated in many tournaments in and around Masvingo including in Africa and Asia and has never disappointed as she has gone on to win trophy after trophy.
“I am proud of the two girls as they have done the family proud at every tournament that they have participated in, as we speak Mirriam is in Harare for the U19 Zimbabwe Open which started today (Friday) and will wound up on Sunday.
“We have been preparing for this tournament for the whole week and we are very confident that she will bring the trophy home,” the soft spoken veteran golf coach and father told The Midweek Watch.
Courtesy of Heritage Academy, Mirriam got a scholarship to further her studies at the ‘A’ school in Harare.
Mirriam is now enrolled at Heritage Academy and doing form 1 where she can pursue her golf career without any hindrance as the school has such disciplines as the elite sport for the pupils.
Mirriam has also won tournaments in Uganda, Kenya, Asia and recently in South Africa world championships qualifiers where she came first.
In 2023 she clinched the NCBA Bank Cup as part of the school team.
At school she won the Heritage Golf Challenge Cup held in Harare recently and her dream is to win more of such prestigious tournaments.
Captain Vitalis Muzenda, the brains behind the Simon Muzenda Golf Scholarship sponsorship also praised the Masiya siters for their performance on the golf course as they act as an inspiration to many young girls who want to take up the sport, which has been long regarded as for the elite.
“I am so impressed by the Masiya girls as they are our torch bearers in the province and in the sport of golf.
“There are very few girls who want to take up the sport as they believe it is an elite sport and as the Muzenda Foundation we thought of demystifying the myth by integrating young primary children into the sport from high density schools like Mucheke, Don Bosco to elite schools like Vic Junior.
“I am proud that our efforts are bearing fruits as witnessed by the two girls’ exploits on the regional and international scene,” said Captain Muzenda, the late National Hero ‘Soul of the Nation’ Dr Simon Muzenda’s son.
