Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have set its sights on developing a new generation of marathon runners, with head coach Benson Chauke confident of the rising talent that he has unearthed so far.
It might be early days yet into the 2026 season but Chauke is so far satisfied with what he has seen.
The veteran coach, who has groomed a host of prominent middle and long-distance runners has since identified some promising athletes who include Godwin Katakura, Wayne Kabondo, and Caroline Mhandu as part of the NAAZ development programme.
Chauke also pointed to the athletes’ potential to meet entry standards for major competitions, citing Katakura’s recent performance at the World Cross Country Championships as a notable achievement.
“We are tracking people like Katakura,” Chauke said. The other targeted athletes, include Munyaradzi Zizhou and Blessing Waison, who are under 26 and are being groomed for future Olympic Games.
Mhandu’s strong performances in 10km and 21km races have also caught the seasoned coach’s eye.
NAAZ are looking to develop a pipeline of talent to succeed current stars like Isaac Mpofu and Tendai Zimuto.
“As head coach, long and middle distance, we are looking at who has been doing so well apart from Isaac (Mpofu) and (Tendai) Zimuto.
“We are tracking people like Katakura,” said Chauke.
“We are happy that Katakura went to the World Cross Country Championships. The reason is he won nationally and the association sent him.
“But what we wanted him to experience is what it takes to be there at the World Championships competition, whether it’s cross country or marathon.
“He had his debut at such a race. The experience that he has gained from there surely will help him now and his coach to plan for the future.”
Chauke believes the potential is there for the identified athletes to meet entry standards for competitions such as the World Championships, and the Olympics.
“I haven’t spoken to the coach to figure out, after this, what the pathway for qualification is, because he (Katakura) has 2:11, which is a good time. Same with Blessing Waison, he has a good time.
“The other target is Moses Tarakinyu with 2:13. “This is the current crop of people that we are looking at. But there are other people we would deliberately want to target, want to take, so that we know what is going on with their training. “These are the likes of Katakura. Why? Because of age.
“Wayne Kabondo also went for the World Cross Country. Going there was also meant to make them realise what it takes to be able to compete at such a level.
“They are under 26-years, these are the people that we are targeting for 2028 and 2032 (Olympics). “Another 24-year-old is Munyaradzi Zizhou from Masvingo. But apart from them, there are others,” said Chauke.
On the women’s side, they are looking at Mhandu, who has been on the rise and delivering some strong performances in 10km and 21km races. “Then, of course, Caroline. Having been picked because she was number one, the encouragement we have given her is that she needed the exposure to run the World Championships.
“She has had her lessons. When she comes back, now she understands what it takes to be able to run at such a competition.”
The past four years have seen the likes of Mpofu hoisting the country’s flag high with some strong performances at the 2022, 2023 and 2025 World Athletics Championships.
He also had a good show at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Tendai Zimuto came on board about two years ago and made his debut at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan last year.
Chauke also said they are tracking and monitoring athletes in different age groups and levels of competitiveness.
“We will keep our eyes on them and see how they develop.
“But our target now is, while we look at the senior ones, we also need to look at the group that is going to succeed these senior ones when they retire from competitive athletics,” Chauke said.
