Kawiwi relishes guiding role

BERLIN, 29 JUN  – Enock Kawiwi, a guide for Para-athlete Christoph Marungu, who competes in the T12 category said he is finding the role of guiding blind athletes enjoyable and something he will do for a long time.
Kawiwi, who is an athlete himself, told Nampa on Thursday that being a guide is a completely different experience compared to able-body sport.
“For the last two years, I trained on how to be a guide and at the beginning of this year I started running as a guide.
“Coming to Germany at the world International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Grand Prix will be a big challenge for me but I am ready for the new experience,” he said.
The soft-spoken guide added that he has been getting a lot of tips on guiding from veteran guide-runner Even Tjiviju, who guides Paralympics Games gold medallist, Ananias Shikongo.
“I really feel fortunate enough to be in the same team as Even (Tjiviju) and David Ndeilenga who have been guides for a long time. They are all the times giving me tips on how to start and guide the athlete on the track as well as how to finish the race,” he said.
Kawiwi and Marungu will be involved in the 100 metre (m), 200m and 400m at the 2018 world IPC Berlin Grand Prix, which is slated for Saturday and Sunday at Berlin’s Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark, where athletes from over 30 countries are expected to compete.
Kawiwi said he is currently fit and ready as he hopes this will be a start of better things in his guiding career.
“Our aim is to do well at this competition as we are staring with our preparation for the Paralympic Games that will be held in Tokyo in 2020. We are also hoping that we can qualify for the All Africa Games next year,” Kawiwi said.
The young guide added that he doesn’t feel any pressure despite the Berlin grand prix being the biggest event he has ever competed in.

NAMPA