adminIn a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive officer Busi Chindove said the athletes valued the support they get from their compatriots.
She said they had intensified their preparations for the Olympics and they were working hard on harnessing resources that would help athletes adequately prepare for the world’s sports fiesta.
“As we enter the actual Olympic year we have intensified our preparations from an organisational and individual point of view. Individually, athletes who have qualified have started their preparations while some are still keeping their hopes high of qualifying for the Olympics.
“As an organisation we have taken necessary steps in negotiating for sponsorship packages for the team. We have approached a number of organisations and our appeal is for the Zimbabwean community abroad to support Team Zimbabwe. Of course, there we need support in terms of finances, medical and airfares among other things but nothing beats moral support,” Chindove said.
Olympic gold medallist and Zimbabwe’s 2011 Sportsperson of the Year Kirsty Coventry has a chance of adding another feather on her swimming cap as she is one of the five athletes that have qualified for the London Games.
United States-based Ngoni Makusha has qualified for long jump and is now seeking to make the grade for the 100m track event before the May cut-off date.
Road-runner Cuthbert Nyasango who won last year’s Kujatana Nkubotu Peace Half Marathon will represent the country at the Olympics.
The other Zimbabwe representatives are rowers Micheen Thornicrost and James Fraiser-Mackenzie.
Track star Brian Dzingai, All-Africa Games gold medallist tennis ace Takanyi Garanganga, Chris Sulgate and Bulawayo born USA-based Mbonisi Ndimande are the other hopeful athletes chasing the May deadline.
According to Chindove, ZOC intends to send a relay team for the Olympics.
“We hope our athletes qualify directly and if they don’t, there is an option of a wild card where we might get limited slots to register some of our players. If we get this option, we will look at all disciplines and see which athletes have good rankings and have a potential to land us medals.
“Our dream is to enter a relay team,” Chindove said.
Online Reporter