GWERU – Three-time Commonwealth Champion Langton ‘Schoolboy’ Tinago was laid to rest at the Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre on Sunday.
Speakers took turns in narrating and reflecting on the successes of Tinago both in Zimbabwe and abroad with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in the Midlands Owen Ncube, represented by his Director Cleto Diwa, saying Schoolboy Tinago’s death is not a loss to the Tinago family but Zimbabwe at large.
He said Schoolboy is one of the greatest sportspeople ever to emerge in Zimbabwe.
“You are not alone in this loss but it is a loss for us all. Tinago is the greatest boxer ever to emerge in Zimbabwe since the regulation for professional boxing was ushered in, in June 1966,” he said.
Schoolboy’s young brother Wellington Pombi said Langton started his boxing career at a young age during his school days and his achievements have made him become the first sports person to be given hero status outside of politics.
“We are thankful with what has been done; Midlands Province has recognised us and given him provincial hero status,” said Wellington.
“For those who are not aware, this is the first time that a sportsperson has been accorded this status; this has never happened before,” Wellington said.
Midlands Sports and Recreation Commission Development Officer Simon Masaka applauded the government for recognising the contribution of sportspersons on the national and international stage.
“We are very much honoured as the Zimbabwe sports fraternity because this is the first time we have been recognised for the job that sports people are doing,” he told mourners.
The Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board says in his career, Schoolboy Tinago had 65 amateur fights of which he was undefeated and later got into the professional ranks and had 86 fights of which he lost 20 outside of Zimbabwe and drew only in two fights. In Zimbabwe he was unbeaten.
Tinago was a three time Commonwealth Champion with his first title in Nigeria, his second in Britain and the third in Zimbabwe. He was named the sports person of the year three times.
