Byo Athletics Board readies for 2018

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Bulawayo Athletics Board (BAB) gets ready for the 2018 season with the hosting of the annual general meeting this coming weekend before activity starts a week later.

BAB chairman Manuel Mpofu said they would be hosting the AGM on 6 January at White City Stadium which will be attended by clubs affiliated to the board.

Mpofu said it was a usual AGM with routine matters on the agenda.
“This year (2017), we managed to secure offices at White City Stadium bringing great convenience to our operations as we now had a central place that people could find us and we kept all our property and information,” he said.

“We will also be using the same venue to host our meeting this year.”

He said the year begins with the provincial cross country championships that will be held at Luveve High School on 13 January that would be followed by a track and field event at White City the next day.

Mpofu said the second cross country event is scheduled for Mpopoma Park on 21 January.

“We created a good course around Luveve High School so we are confident we are going to attract a good number of athletes on the day.
“We have also been chosen to host the inter-provincial cross country championships next year after a splendid job in hosting them, they will be at

Hillside Dams on 10 February.
“One of the highlights in the region will be the regional track and field championships that are going to involve countries such as Zambia, Botswana and South Africa for 19 and 20 May,” he said.
On the continental front, Mpofu said the draw card this year would be the IAAF Africa Senior Championships scheduled for Lagos, Nigeria in August, which local athletes would have to work hard to qualify for.
Internationally the main event will be the IAAF World Under-20 Championships pencilled for July in Finland which Mpofu said would provide a platform for young athletes to gauge their abilities on a world stage. Other highlights on the local front include the expansion of the Old Mutual Nkulumane Fun Run which this year will be expanded into a half marathon.