Bring back Chamber of Mines, bring back athletics

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ONCE upon a time, Zimbabwe was a cauldron of athletics thanks to the Chamber of Mines games.

In the 1980s, the Chamber of Mines Track and Field Championships were the backbone of athletics. Every athlete, who wanted to build a name, had to make a stride at the competition.

Termed the “Mini Zimbabwe Olympics”, the Chamber of Mines Games were put on ice after their 48th edition held at Zimasco’s Peak Mine in Shurugwi in July 2007.

Notable athletes that came from that system include Benjamin Songoya, Alfred Ngwenya, Innocent Chingwe, Abel Manyumeka, Julius Masvanhise, Jeffrey Masvanhise, Elliot Mujaji, Jeffrey Wilson, Tennyson Shonhayi, Philip Mukomana, Gabriel Chikomo and Themba Ncube.

However, the games stopped so long ago that the then-household names in the sport are largely unknown to the present generation. At their peak, the Games used to attract nearly 4 000 athletes and officials, mainly drawn from mining clubs like Hwange, Trojan, Jumbo Mine, Arcturus Mine, Zimasco Shurugwi, Zimasco Zvishavane, Shabanie Mine, Gaths, Blanket Mine, Mimosa, Zimplats, Red Wing Penhalonga, Ziscosteel and Ashanti.

Records were made, broken and history was written. The list of athletes whose light shone at the competitions is endless. They further went on to represent the country with distinction and consummate their talents.

Back in the day, one would watch Artwell Mandaza, Adon Trevor, Boniface Magodo, Dera Magodo, Vuyani Fulunga, Collin and Cliff Mutize and Charles Mafika lining up in the 200 and 400m sprints at the Chamber Games.

These names were up for consideration for the 400m and 4x400m relay at successive Olympics Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972. Such was the quality of these men that in 1969 Artwell Mandaza became the first man under the moon to run a sub-10 second 100m.

It is no wonder that his 400m time of 46, 2 seconds at the Chamber of Mines is yet to be bettered. Those lucky among Zimbabweans to run better times did so on tartan track – Nelton Ndebele and Gabriel Chikomo in 2007.

The middle and long distances had Zephaniah Ncube, Musaope Phiri, Rio Tinto’s Kenias Tembo, Tapfumaneyi Jonga, Lazwell Ngoma, Hwange’s Rambson Mulombe and Mathias Kanda both of whom represented the country at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Mulombe and Kanda were the first Blacks to represent the country at that level though Cyprian Tseriwa had 1962 represented Rhodesia at the Empire Games (Commonwealth).

That history, as told by the athletes, coaches and administrators, rings moments of glory. In that telling, they bemoan how the game has suffered since that time.
Memories of the Chamber of Mines Championships are so vivid. This was one contest where the creme de la creme of athletics met.

Sports administrators have called for the revival of the games to put the country back on the athletics world map.

“The folding of the Chamber of Mines Games had a sour and painful effect on athletics. The games were the stepping stone for many careers. Every athlete wanted to be part of those and that is where we got some of our best talents. The athletes fought for titles as individuals and their mine. Reviving these games would be a welcome boost to athletics.

“There were incentives like a promotion at work. Prices like decent blankets were also a big motivation and celebration parties back at their respective mines. Juma Phiri, Allen Nyoni and Thetelani Ncube are some of the greatest athletes from the chamber of mines competitions. said veteran administrator Manuel Mpofu.

“Talented athletes were identified right from school and given a guarantee of employment at the mines. They ate and dreamt athletics because of the immediate results of living a better life and having a job at a mine,” said veteran administrator Manuel Mpofu.

Mpofu said universities and uniformed forces were on the right track in aiding the growth of athletics.

“Universities are playing a big part in the development of Athletics, the same as the Uniformed Forces which have taken over the role of yesteryear mines. Gifted athletes are being absorbed into the Uniformed Forces because of their talent.

“Local Universities also play a part in the development of Athletics by offering local Sponsorship to talented athletes. The Bindura University of Science Education is one of the few offering this.

“The system is good because it gives hope to the upcoming talent that if I excel either I will be offered a scholarship in the USA, Local Universities or Uniformed Forces.

“One of the recent Athletes to get a Scholarship in the United States of America at Texas Christian University Clinton Muunga made it through facilitation by Arnold Payne, Lovemore Dube and myself.”

However, Mpofu believes not all hope is lost for athletics.

“We should encourage the use of science-based technology for our athletes. They should be tested and measured continuously so that the coaches and managers apply the correct training cycle, diet and so forth. Train, Compete and Repeat is a cycle that should be used to monitor the progression of the athletes’ performances.

“To compete at more high-level competitions, attachments at High-Performance Centres for both athletes and coaches is key.

“We need more high-level coaching courses or seminars so that coaches share their knowledge and experiences in the field of athletics.

“We also need to monitor winning teams such as the Bronze Medallists Relay Team at Africa Senior Championships of Ngoni Makusha, Dickson Kamungeremu, Tapiwa Makarawu and Denzel Siamualela,” said Mpofu. – @innocentskizoe