adminJeffrey Murimbechi
Triathlon Zimbabwe pins hopes on local triathlete Gideon Benade, who will make headway as part of the robust field of 30 elites in the 2019 Bonaqua Troutbeck African Union (ATU) cup at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga on February 16.
Twenty-year-old Benade made his senior men’s elite debut at the same event where he finished 12th out of strong field of 15 elite athletes and this year he has higher prospects as he will race 20 other athletes.
Twenty-one men will compete in the men’s elite while nine will make the women’s elite and this is the biggest field in the history of the iconic event which celebrates its 12th edition. Event director and former Triathlon Zimbabwe, Rick Fulton, backs Benade alone with the field of junior athletes just like him.
“All eyes will be on him (Benade) at Troutbeck for an improved performance because he has had a sharp learning curve and know what it is like to be at the top at international level. It will be interesting to see how he goes against better elite fields.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any elite Zimbabwean women, but all eyes will be on the junior African Cup where we have Andie Kuipers and Matthew Denslow,” said Fulton.
In addition, an inaugural ATU Junior TRIATHLON AFRICAN CUP will be staged at the same venue, which will see Zimbabwe hosting Junior Elite athletes from Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa.
The supporting events on the day include an African Cross-Triathlon (Off-Road) Championship, Schweppes Corporate Triathlon Challenge, Zimbabwe Triathlon Championships over a number of events, Tri-Kidz and Trisports triathlon, Aquathlon (run-swim-run) and an Open Water Swim, all under the banner of the Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival.
This year marks the third anniversary for Bonaqua still water as the official title sponsor, although Coca-Cola has been involved with the sport for four years with Schweppes water.
“As the Coca-Cola system which includes our bottling partner Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, we are glad that we have been able to maintain local sports development through sponsorships like Triathlon and other sports initiatives such as COPA Coca-Cola that we bank roll,” said Coca-Cola senior brand manager Vee Chibanda .
Globally, Coca-Cola also sponsors the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.
“The Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union (ATU) which is sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU), is contributing positively towards the development of sports and tourism in Zimbabwe by attracting regional, continental and global athletes,” said Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, marketing and public affairs director, Unaiswi Nyikadzino.
Bongani Ndlovu