Coming from a humble background and in order to win and retain her WBC Super bantam weight title twice, her story reflects the true meaning of baptism with fire.
At 19, the 33-year-old boxer attempted to venture into the world of sports starting with football. Unfortunately,things did not pan out well for her. She failed to display any sort of prowess in the sport and she decided to try something else.
Venturing to Mathare North in Eastlands, she met Conjestina Achieng’. The lady who went on to become the first African woman to hold an international title when she defeated Ugandan Fiona Tugume to take the vacant WIBF Middleweight crown. It was then that Fatuma Zarika’s life in boxing began.
However, despite her success, Zarika claims life as a professional boxer in Kenya is way too tough and one that she would actually never advise her kids to partake.
When I sat down with the humble champion, she opened up on the state of the country's boxing profession, challenges she faces as a female boxer as well as her future plans.
Read the excerpt below.
State of Kenya's boxing
Tuko na a long way to go kwa sababu ukiangalia Kenya hatuna zile vifaa zote zenye gym za majuu ziko nazo..Gym za majuu wanatushinda kwani ukiingia kule unaeza lala usiku mzima uki train, so tuko mbali sana kuwafikia.
As a female boxer what are some of the challenges that you face
Challenge ni nyingi, kwa mfano dame boxer saa zingine ukienda mahali mtu hakutambui, hajui wewe ni nani. Ukiwa supermarket unaenda kwa dame unaambiwa enda huku. Hizo ndio vitu hu face lakini hizo vitu huwa hazinisumbui.
Saa zingine unaingia kwa ofisi mahali, mtu anaanza kukuambia we toka hapa kijana we enda, juu mtu hakujui wewe ni nani ni kitu nimezoea na hainishtui.
What role have you taken in a bid to inspire fellow female boxers
Kitu chenye mimi kama Zarika nimefanya nikuwaonesha mwelekeo mzuri ni upi na kujaribu kuongea nao. Kufika mahali nimefika na kutaka kujua in life challenges zenye wana face hizo ndio vitu mimi huzungumza nao.
Do fellow female boxers approach you for any kind of financial help?
Kuna ile kitambo sana hizo ndio vitu nilikuwa napata, na kuna ile wakati unacheza game na hujalipwa so mtu anafikiria vizuri sana una pesa.
Mtu anakuja kwako anakuambia amefukuziwa school fees na anataka umsaidie na saa hizo pia wewe huna na huwezi mwambia huna pesa na mtu anaona hutaki kumsaidia.
Do you think the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission is doing enough to promote female boxing?
Sioni kama inafanya enough juu ingefanya more, inafaa kuwa hao ndio watu wako kifua mbele kujaribu kuongea na gava iweze ku support boxing na tuweze kutafutiwa sponsors ili boxers wote waweze kucheza game, si ati mwaka mooja tunangoja game moja.
Wangefanya more si eti kuketi chini wangoje ni promoter mgani anakam kuweka fight.
Hakuna enough boxing matches, last nilicheza ilikuwa December 2017, heri mimi nina Sportpesa na je hao wengine? So hana kitu yoyote mbele na nyuma. Hawafanyi more, tunataka more.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Kuwacha boxing, nataka niwache juu hata hivyo nimecheza for 16 years so nitaangalia maybe mungu akinijalia maybe nicheze boxing for two years then niachane nayo.
Kama mungu atanisaidia nifungue gym nianze ku trainisha pia ma boxers upcoming na pia niweze kuwa promoter. At least niweze kuona wale wengine wasinyanyaswe vile tunanyanyaswa ama vile tulikuwa tunanyanyaswa.
Would you advice your kids to take up boxing?
Sioni kama kuna yeyote atachukua boxing kwa sababu kila mtu yuko kivyake. Na hata mimi mwenyewe siwezi penda watoto wangu waingie boxing kama mimi mwenyewe sijakuwa promoter.
Reason ni tumetumiwa vya kutosha na staki mtu atumie mtoto wangu.
Watch the video below.
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