adminSikhumbuzo Moyo : Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) is embarking on an ambitious programme that will result in schools in the province establishing athletics clubs for pupils to compete all year round.According to the Bab leadership, this initiative will help promote and improve the sport of athletics in the province.
Bab chairman Manuel Mpofu said they were satisfied with schools’ responses to their proposal.
“We want to do away with this perception that schools only compete in athletics during the first term. By coming up with clubs in their schools, they can then take part in our competitions as Bab and that way the sport will grow and one day, not only a national or regional, but an international champion will emerge from this province,” said Mpofu.
He said Nkanyezi Primary School of Lobengula had set up such a club and urged more schools to follow suit.
“We have included provincial heads in charge of athletics in both the National Association of Secondary Schools Heads (Nash) and National Association of Primary Schools Heads (Naph) in our executive as ex-officio members to help facilitate this initiative,” said Mpofu.
Because of this, Mpofu is confident that Bulawayo’s Naph and Nash provincial squads will do well in the forthcoming national track and field athletics competitions set for Torwood and Mutare respectively.
Bulawayo has not enjoyed success in national schools’ competitions at both primary and secondary levels, but hopes are now high that they can turn the tide.
Online Reporter