adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
AFTER two years in the wilderness, wheelchair athletes are set to make a welcome return to the Dr Simon Muzenda Memorial Gutu half marathon when the event is held at Mupandawana in Gutu this Sunday. The Dr Simon Muzenda half marathon had over the years grown to be one the richest local road races but the physically challenged athletes were feeling hard done by after their section was scrapped due to logistical challenges.
But for this year the race organsiers have revived the wheelchair category to run concurrently with the main 21km road race where the winner will pocket US$2 500.
And the wheelchair athletes yesterday received a boost ahead of the race when former National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Albert Muyambo donated some cash towards their participation.
Muyambo said he was glad to note that the physically challenged athletes had been accommodated at this year’s Gutu race and was hopeful that they should take wheelchair racing to a higher level.
“I got to understand that the wheelchair athletes have not been accommodated at the Dr Muzenda half marathon for the past two years but following consultations, they will be back this time.
“Personally I know Edmund Makutya and Elford Moyo from the Danhiko Games and during my stint as president at NAAZ and the two asked if I could help them get to Gutu for this race.
“They are wiling to participate in the half marathon even if there were no prizes at stake but I have personally decided to help in a very small way,” said Muyambo.
In addition to the prize money being offered by the race organizers to the wheelchair athletes, Muyambo offered cash incentives for the top five finishers in the section.
“As an individual I have decided to come up with token prizes for the wheelchair athletes and I will also try to pay for the travelling and accommodation for some of them to Gutu for the race,” said Muyambo.
As a former athletics administrator, Muyambo said his heart also bleeds when he sees the widening gap between the elite wheelchair athletes like Moyo and Makutya and Alex Mukandla and the rookies.
The wheelchair athlete’s prize money was handed over to the Sport and Recreation Commission who will then present to the winners on Sunday.
Sports Commission director director-general, Charles Nhemachena said the gesture by Muyambo should be emulated and also challenged corporates to help support sport.
“It’s very rare these days to find any individual who comes to recognise that fellow athletes could be at a disadvantage and need help.
“As the Sports Commission, we would like to welcome this magnanimous gesture from Muyambo. I know there are lot individuals who participated in sport and now lead big corporates but have never given anything to sports development,” said Nhemachena.
Makutya, who is one of the top wheelchair racers in Zimbabwe, said he was hoping to encourage up-and-coming disabled youths to take up sport.
Online Reporter