by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF-Africa Press Officer
Recently he was featured by the Sunday Mail of Zimbabwe
“Table tennis has even given me table manners.’’
In the last 10 years, Brian Chamboko has been among the Southern African nation elite players, while his rivalry with his “good friend” Vikram Singh could be one of the reasons the game has survived this far.
According to Sunday Mail, the rivalry has been described as a ‘”blessing” to the local game.
“I believe this rivalry has in a way helped keep the local game afloat. There is a crop of players who are team Vikram and the other is team Brian,” said Brian Chamboko.
“They emulate our type of play and it’s good to know we have made such huge, positive impact on the game,” he said.
“On the table, Vikram is my number one enemy; we always bring out the best in each other.
“However, once play is over, we are the very best of buddies,” said Chamboko, who is ranked fourth in the country.
He is however, grateful for the opportunities table tennis has given him. “I supply table tennis equipment, so in a way this sport is both my passion and my profession. Bringing these two worlds together is testimony of how this game has become part of me.
“I also do some coaching at Harare International School, and I am very passionate about nurturing talent and playing my part in ensuring that the game progresses,” he said.
After finishing 2018 as a silver medalist in the open category of the Chinese Ambassadors Cup in Zambia last November, Brian Chamboko has now set sights on this year’s Africa Games in Morocco.
“Zambia has become like a second home for me. I remember winning the Four Nations title there in 2009, and it was pleasing to go with Team Zimbabwe and claim another medal,” he said.
“For this year, my main focus will be on the Africa Games in Morocco,” he said.
Despite his passion for the sport, Brian Chamboko in pained with the state of table tennis in Zimbabwe.
“We do not have running leagues, we are solely dependent on provincial tournaments, and the Zimbabwe Open and Zimbabwe Closed tournament are our only big tournaments. The prevailing financial challenges have obviously affected the game and there are some corporate bodies and individuals playing for social but my wish is that we all come together and have proper leagues running,” said Brian Chamboko, who is also part of Zimbabwe Table Tennis technical team.
“In schools, we have managed to be vibrant, which is good, but the hope is that the same can happen at senior club and provincial level across all provinces,” said Brian Chamboko.