VIDEO - "My Goal is to be Known Worldwide, not only in Africa"

Mozambique’s Maria Mabjaia is just like any other sailor heading to the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Langkawi, Malaysia this December. She has a passion, sporting aspirations and dreams that any young sports person would have.

Growing up in Mozambique Mabjaia has overcome many barriers but thanks to invaluable support from within her nation and World Sailing, the talented youngster’s gift is being nurtured in order to help her achieve her goal. And that goal in Maria’s words is, “to be known worldwide, not only in Africa, but around the world. That’s it.”

Simple.

World Sailing TV were on-site at the Youth Worlds Emerging Nations Program clinic in Maputo, Mozambique in May 2015 and were given rare access into the youngsters home and local neighbourhood after she participated in the clinic.

We met Maria, her mother, her coach and even the national broadcaster who took a deep interest in the World Sailing TV crew on the ground.

The six minute video can be viewed below:

Snapshots – what they said:

Maria Mabjaia, “To get to Tokyo 2020 is not easy, but it’s not difficult either. You just need to be dedicated to what you want. That’s it. You need to be very dedicated, to know what you want and what you are going to do there and why you are doing it. That’s why I’m so motivated.”

Ana Maria Mabjaia (mother), “When Maria first started I had a lot of difficulties because we didn’t have suitable transport and we would wake up at 3am to catch the train, that was leaving from here, we would catch it at the Motoclub Bar and it’s very far. And there were some days when she fell asleep on her way there because she missed the only train that could transport her from here, the club, to Marraquene. So, we had a lot of difficulties.

“The management of the Clube Marítimo de Desporto coordinated with the Ministry of Education, they requested a transfer for her to come to live in the city of Maputo. They also transferred me from there to stay next to her and very close to the Marítimo and to her school.”

Cesar Sanchez (coach), “Maria lives near the club in a community, they don’t have much money you know and we, Club Maritime Sports, we make it work with the people in Maria’s community.  We come here and get future sailors to go in the club, start swimming and then they have the opportunity to sail and then they grow up with the club.

“There are 12-15 sailors living in this community.”

ISAF Youth Worlds

Langkawi, Malaysia is hosting the 45th edition of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships from 27 December to 3 January 2016. More than 380 sailors from 80 sailing in more than 300 boats across nine disciplines will compete in Malaysia.

Website – www.isafyouthworlds.com/home.php