adminCharandura, whose personal best time in the 100m is 10.32 seconds, is aiming to be at his best this year.
“I have already started training and I know what is required of me and what I am capable of doing. I have got what it takes to compete at the highest level and if I manage to get in shape then anything is possible.
“My ambition is to be a part of the team that will represent the country in Russia this year,” said Charandura.
The 26-year-old Charandura is a co-founder of NC Athletics Academy which was formed last ear.
The academy has outstanding athletes like Andrew Chenjera from Midlands Christian College, Tapuwa Pongweni of Falcon College, Nigel Gurumba of Petra High School, Elizabeth Wallet, Kiana Lees, Reinard Ndlovu and Tafara Chivasa of Nust.
But what sets the academy apart from the rest is the calibre of athletes in their ranks.
A closer look at some of these youngsters reveals a picture of hope for the nation that sent a very small team to the Olympic Games last year.
For example Ndlovu broke the Zimbabwe Junior record in the 400m when he clocked 47.98 seconds.
Lees who is only 13 years old recorded the fastest time during the SASCA Games in South Africa last year when she clocked 12.90 seconds in the 100m under-15 age group.
Chenjera is a record holder at Midlands Christian College in the 400m race with a time of 50.13 seconds while Pongweni is a record holder at his school in the same race with a time of 49.85 seconds.
Chivasa clocked a personal best of 49.85 seconds during the Vice Chancellor Games last year.
“You can easily see that we have athletes who if given the opportunity can fly the country’s flag high.
“I think it is not a lack of talent because we have plenty of that. We need proper planning and vision not the old fashioned way of doing things.
“People who run our sporting associations should not be those who were not good at the sport. They should be people who also know the administrative side of things to achieve a high degree of professionalism,” said Charandura.
The academy is holding a fundraising dinner on Saturday as they seek to secure sponsorship in a country where funding is scarce and the national association is even struggling to bankroll athletics in the country.
“We are having a fundraising dinner this Saturday and we hope the corporate world will realise our plight and chip in with some financial assistance as NC Athletics Academy is one of the most promising academies in the country.
“We have always done well in the Africa University Games as an academy representing the country,” said Charandura.
During the fundraising dinner the academy will award its most outstanding athletes for the 2012 season as they seek to drum up support ahead of the Africa Junior Championships in Nigeria this year.
This will be followed by the World Junior Championships in Ukraine.
Bongani Ndlovu