A Zimbabwean-born MMA fighter who moved to Britain aged fourteen swapped Zimbabwe for Essex.
Walter Gahadza, 35, nicknamed ‘The Sniper‘, showcased a sporting talent very early on, excelling in football and sprinting disciplines.
Gahadza is now gunning for the vacant welterweight title, Essexlive reported.
Speaking to the Daily Star, he remembered the early days of his time in the UK. He said:
There were a couple of hurdles. To start with, there was the accent. I came from Zimbabwe to Southend-on-Sea, Essex. I could speak and write English very well.
But the accent was the toughest thing, and the weather. The first time I experienced snow was over here. But I managed to adapt. That’s something that I do pretty well, and it translates to MMA.
There are several Zimbabwean-born people who have excelled in various fields who chose not to represent Zimbabwe at an international level.
Some cite the southern African country’s poverty or maladministration of resources as a hurdle for their careers hence the decision to change citizenship.
Some of the prominent people who chose host countries over Zimbabwe include Dereck Chisora who was born and bred in Mbare, a suburb of Harare, and Tinashe, a United States RnB musician originally from Zimbabwe.