The gates of Gwanda High School opened to something rare last week when former IBF International Welterweight Boxing Champion Kell Brook walked in. He didn’t come alone.
The stop at Coach Clinton’s home made it even more personal.

For the young fighters in Matabeleland South, meeting a man who once held a world title wasn’t just a photo moment. It was proof that the dream is possible, even from a dusty gym in Gwanda.

My Kasi Magazine sat down with Loyd Mujibulikwa, a boxer and coach from Gwanda, to talk about what the visit meant, the challenges they face every day, and the fire it lit in the next generation.

The day last week was packed. The Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution was there, reminding the crowd that sport is a way out.

“The minister encouraged young people to shun drug and substance abuse and instead channel their energy into sporting activities,” Loyd told My Kasi Magazine.

The Mayor of Gwanda, the District Development Coordinator, members of the business community, ZRP, the Municipality of Gwanda, plus Gwanda High School staff and students all showed up. But the real energy was in the ring, where Kell Brook spoke directly to boys and girls who train with worn-out gloves and big ambitions.

When My Kasi Magazine asked Loyd about the state of boxing in Gwanda, he didn’t sugarcoat it.

“One of the main challenges is limited resources,” he said.

“Mr. Brook also noted that the environment we train in and the equipment we have are not enough to really produce world champions. We need to upgrade our equipment and training infrastructure.

“We need certified coaches and officials.” For Loyd, the solution is about structure and support.

“What needs to change is a strong boxing association that works with ministers and mayors to get funding, especially for a boxing ring in Gwanda.

“Once we have that, I am sure Gwanda will produce more champions who will conquer the world.”

The impact of Brook’s presence was immediate. Loyd described it as more than motivation it was a shift in belief.

“Kell Brook’s visit had a very big impact on all local boxers because it gave us inspiration and hope,” he told My Kasi Magazine.

“He showed that there is life in boxing, that you can be someone, you can be a champion. It’s not about where you come from, it’s about how hard you work in the gym and how you listen to your coaches.”

The attention followed just as quickly.
“Millions of people are now seeing what we are doing, and more people are looking into Gwanda and asking what is so special about the town and why Kell Brook, the former world champion, came there.”

Brook didn’t just inspire. He gave instructions.
Loyd recalled the advice word for word,“Put in the work, stay disciplined, and listen to your trainers. Stay in the gym and work very hard, because all that hard work plus discipline will make you world champions. Keep focus on your goal.”
Brook also promised to help beyond words. “He said he will assist by linking us with big stages in the US and UK so we can perform,” Loyd said.

For a town that often feels forgotten by the sports world, that promise landed hard.
The visit changed Loyd personally.

He told My Kasi Magazine he’s rethinking how he trains every single day.

“I am going to stay in the gym and keep fit always, because opportunities come at any time.

“You don’t wait to organise a meeting before you start training. You have to stay 100% fit all the time so that when the big opportunity comes, you are ready to take it with both hands.”

That mindset, he believes, is what separates hopefuls from champions.

When asked what he’d say to the kids watching from the sidelines at Gwanda High School, Loyd kept it simple and direct.

“Keep going, keep pushing, keep at it,” he said.

“Not having a boxing ring is not a limitation to success, and we can be successful with what we have. Look at African champions who came from the dust with only gloves and basic equipment but still made it to the top. Continue working hard until you get there.”

The biggest result of the day wasn’t in the ring. It was in the crowd of students who stayed behind after Brook left.

“The visit inspired a lot of young children, especially from Gwanda High School.After we left, students approached us wanting to join boxing because they liked what they saw. We are taking kids away from drugs and substance abuse and putting them into a disciplined sport. Kell Brook’s visit changed how people in Gwanda see boxing.”

The inspiration spread beyond the boys’ team. Gweneth Nare, a flyweight boxer from Gwanda Powerhouse Boxing Academy, told My Kasi Magazine.

“My name is Gweneth Nare, I’m a flyweight boxer from Gwanda Powerhouse Boxing Academy. Meeting Kell Brook in Gwanda changed how I see boxing and life. He taught me that discipline beats talent. Kell is a world champion. His visit proved something important to me.

“Where you’re born doesn’t decide your future. A man from the UK came all the way to inspire us here in Gwanda. Because of him I now train with discipline every day. I respect my coaches. I’m focused on my goals. If Kell Brook can become a world champion, I believe a boxer from Gwanda can become a world champion too. Thank you.”

For students, the lesson was just as clear. Millecent Ndlovu, 16, also from Gwanda Powerhouse Boxing Academy, shared with My Kasi Magazine.

“For students in Gwanda, seeing Kell Brook meant a lot. That was meeting someone who started in local gyms and went on to compete at the highest level of professional boxing. His visit to Gwanda as students we got a rare chance to interact directly with a world champion. As students what we learned from him is inspiration through perseverance. Kell Brook’s journey from local gyms in England to become a world champion shows that you don’t have to come from a big city or have perfect conditions to achieve big things. It reinforce ideas of hard work, discipline, and chasing goals even when starting small. For young boxers in Gwanda, it was proof that talent in Zimbabwe can also reach global levels if we stay committed.”