adminwith the cross-country, track and field events lined up for 9-10 February.
The cross-country competition will be held at Luveve High School on 9 February while White City Stadium will play host to the track and field events a day later.
All the clubs and renowned athletes are expected to take part as the province steps up its preparations to select the best athletes that will present Bulawayo during the course of the season.
Matabeleland Athletics Board chairperson Manuel Mpofu said the forthcoming events in February will lay a strong foundation for the region to challenge for honours when the national season starts.
”We cannot afford to be complacent as the other provinces have already started preparations for a season that promises to be hectic and we want to field our best athletes. The cross-country and track and field events in February will present us with a perfect opportunity to select a formidable provincial team that is capable of winning medals,” said Mpofu.
It is going to be an exciting two-day event as both the junior and senior athletes battle it out to gain recognition.
In the cross-country Under-16 category, girls will run in the 4km race while boys will run 6 km.
Senior women will compete in the 8km race while the men will fight it out in the 12km distance.
Mpofu said all the events are open to individual athletes and other clubs from outside the province.
”All the independent athletes and clubs from outside the province are free to come and be part of the action. In fact outside athletes are likely to give our athletes good competition besides spicing up the events. We are not closing the door on anyone as we want our own athletes to compete against the best from outside the region,” he said.
Top athletes from such clubs as the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prison Services, Zimbabwe National Army and Sparrows are expected to be part of the two-day event.
Established athletes like Trust Chidamoyo of ZRP Unit Fairbridge, Tarirai Ishe of ZPS and Leonard Koki of ZNA are expected to be some of the star attractions.
ZRP Fairbridge coach Tivawone Gava said they were prepared for the events and they will field a very strong team.
”We started training last week and the athletes are getting into shape which is a positive sign as Unit Fairbridge is regarded as one of the powerhouses in the province,” said Gava.
The athletes who will excel during the events will get the chance to represent Bulawayo during the inter-provincial competitions.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter