daniel chigunwe
Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Athletics Board chairperson Watson Madanyika says that they are geared for this weekend’s National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe Track and Field Inter-Provincial Championships.
The competition will be held on Saturday at White City Stadium in Bulawayo and is expected to attract roughly 400 athletes from all provinces.
Madanyika emphasised the importance of the meet since it’s a build-up to major competitions, that include the Africa Senior Championships and World Under-20 Championships.
“On the preparation side, I think as the host province, we are now ready.
“As team Bulawayo, I think we are going to field a youthful team where we expect our juniors to qualify for the World Junior Championships that will be held in Lima, Peru.
“We would also like our athletes to qualify for the AUSC (African Union Sports Council) Region Five, which will be held sometime next year in Namibia.
“So, that’s our target. We are fielding very few senior athletes.
“We have been training as team Bulawayo at White City Stadium and we are raring to go,” said Madanyika.
Harare are the defending champions and Bulawayo, as hosts, will be out to challenge for the title.
Some of the junior athletes they are pinning their hopes on Alpha Mpofu, Mzi Ncube, and Carlton Siwela.
In the women’s section, they have the likes of Samukeliso Ndebele, who has been to the World Under-20 before, and Priviledge Bower.
Madanyika said some of them are close to attaining the World Under-20 qualifying times and the province is hoping that their senior athletes like Dennis Hove will leave a mark at the national event.
“We are fielding over 50 athletes as team Bulawayo, about 55 athletes.
“I think Alpha Mpofu is almost there . . . We hope that he will push again during this national competition.
“As team Bulawayo, I think we have got one (senior) athlete, Dennis Hove. He is training in Harare but he is from Bulawayo. I think he has the potential to qualify and get selected for Cameroon at the Senior Championships.
“As a province, this time we aim to be on top and want to be number one as the hosts. The advantage is we are not travelling and we will try to field athletes in every event.
“We are expecting good competition, stiff competition from all the provinces as the athletes would like to be selected for the Cameroon Championships. It would be a tough competition.”
Most of the provinces have registered their teams for the meeting.
“I am happy almost every province is represented. Masvingo I think is yet to send. I think that’s the only province that have not yet sent their team list. But all the other provinces have sent their team list. So we are busy with the start lists now.
“From all the provinces we are expecting more than 400 participants,” said Madanyika.
Harare are set to field a 50-member team including seasoned athletes such as sprinter Dickson Kamungeremu.
Kamungeremu is up for 100m and 4x100m relay.
“I am expecting it to be very competitive. So I have to bring my A-game and I am ready for it.
“Yes, definitely that is my goal to be part of the team for the African Championships. I am confident that I will make it. “I believe in myself and it would mean a lot to me to be part of the team and hopefully get another medal for the country,” said Kamungeremu.
He was part of the 4x100m relay team that won a bronze medal at the previous edition of the African Championships held in Mauritius in 2022.
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