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FORGOTTEN Tsholotsho female athlete Brenda Banda has formed an athletics academy that will be based at Jimila Secondary School in Tsholotsho.
The academy will be known as Jimila Striders Athletics Club and its main thrust will be to afford rural athletes a window into being selected for national team assignments. It becomes the first athletics academy based in a rural area in the country.
“We want to identify and recruit talented athletes from the surroundings. I want these youngsters to be recognised by national team selectors as well as getting them academic scholarships outside the country,” said Banda.
She rose to prominence at the turn of the millennium and was one of the few athletes who competed at the inaugural Zimbabwe National Youth Games that were held in Bulawayo in 2003.
The 10km road race and half-marathon queen said she will soon be inviting experts to come down to Tsholotsho to conduct workshops that will benefit athletes and teachers in the area.
Late last year another athletics veteran, Juma Phiri, opened an athletics academy that will be based at Hamilton High School in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter