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‘FEZ’ SPEAKS HOPE, LIFE

04/02/2021 09:56:00 BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE

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MBABANE – In every bad, there is good.

Despair cannot drive out misery, only hope and faith can do that. The fight against COVID-19 calls for people to look beyond the damage that has already been done, but to unite and give hope to the infected and affected people as there is a lot of good that can come out of this torturous era.

A man of faith, sportsman and family man, Sandziso Maseko believes that there is hope for a better life despite the challenges imposed by COVID-19. A basketball dream that started two decades ago from school has opened ample opportunities for the then Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) basketball and netball team player.

As a strong religious believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who breathed life into Lazarus’ dry bones, Mavuso is a true inspiration to everyone that suffered as a result of COVID-19. The fight against covid-19 is more than just physical, but spiritual and mental. Mavuso shared an insight of how he has been coping and managing to stay safe from contracting COVID-19.

Let us hear how he manages to stay fit and healthy amid the COVID-19 battle:

How do you improve your fitness level?

“Physical training is the proven remedy for fighting viruses and diseases. A fit body is a healthy body. It is not easy to juggle work and training but it calls for sacrifice to ensure that my body is fit and ready for any battle. Jogging is the most important thing for every athlete. Then a few exercises, especially stomach exercises, make up for training since we can’t gather to train in groups. I have a flat tummy trimmer and a wheel that I use for stomach exercises. They are the most important things that help me to keep fit. The battle of fitness in our game is mostly in making sure that the stomach is flat and fit. I also do squats and push-ups.

Do you know of anyone who had tested positive for COVID-19 and what sort of support did you offer?

“A lot of people have been affected by the virus but it is also important to share that testing positive is not a death sentence. A lot of people close to me (colleagues, family members and friends) have tested positive and it is worth mentioning that they came out victorious. I usually tell them that the mind is the devil’s battlefield. Once you lose the battle in the mind, it’s easy to also lose the battle against COVID-19.

One needs to be mentally strong, healthy and stop reading negative things on the internet about the virus. It is true that it has taken a lot of souls, but it is also important to know that we have had more recoveries than deaths. This means that we can conquer this virus with a positive mindset and also using our faith in God. Christ being the chief cornerstone in our faith is the solution to the whole world.

How has COVID-19 affected you in general?

“COVID-19 has really disrupted our lives. My spiritual and social lives have been hugely affected following the ban on gatherings. To me as a believer, my life is centred around Church. It is true that we, as believers, have a ‘church inside us’ but fellowship plays a big role in moulding our lives. The ban on sports meant that we won’t be having group trainings, which are also effective in keeping fit. The lack of competition due to the ban means that our social life is stagnant. We are really missing these things since they have become our way of life.”

What message can you share with people during these trying times?

“The only message I can think of and which works for me is believing in God even during such times. Exodus 33:14, God says, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” So no matter how challenging the situation may be but God is still on the Throne and He is our ever present help. Ours is to believe in Him and know that there shall come a time when all this will pass and God will restore and refresh our tired bodies and give us rest.

We must also know that the Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. Nahum 1 verse7.

Let’s all run to God. He will cover our ‘defenceless’ heads.