daniel chigunwe
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have moved their awards to next year.
The event was initially pencilled for November.
However, NAAZ president Tendayi Tagara said it is now expected to take place in the first quarter of 2025.
“The preparations of the awards are complete in terms of the technical aspects, selection of athletes, shortlisting them, officials and coaches. That has already been done.
“We are waiting for the finalisation in terms of the budget for the event.
“That’s what we are now working on and we are pushing for the event to be in the first two months of the year in 2025.
“Definitely we are going to have the event, that’s what we are finalising, the administrative part of it,” said Tagara.
The national awards returned on the NAAZ calendar this year with the athletics mother body honouring athletes who excelled in 2023.
The awards had been shelved for more than 20 years.
Some of the categories to be awarded include Athlete of the Year, Senior Men Athlete of the Year as well as Senior Women Athlete of the Year.
It’s the same scenario for the juniors – men and women.
The association will also honour outstanding coaches and officials.
Some of the favourites for the 2024 awards are sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba.
The United States-based athletes had an outstanding season, with the major highlight being their qualification and participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in August.
They reached the men’s 200m final at the Games.
Online Reporter