Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) is promising a very explosive event when the 10 provinces gather in Harare for the inter-provincial championships.
Athletes vying for national recognition and pride will be in Harare to compete in the 2026 finals.
However some of the country’s top athletes who are vying for international recognition have opted to compete at Botswana’s Golden Grand Prix Championship on Sunday. The event will be held at the Gaborone National Sports Stadium under conditions that meet global standards.
Bulawayo-based Methembe Tshuma was yesterday forced to change focus following the last minute intervention by Bakers Inn, who weighed in with US$400 sponsorship for him to travel to the Botswana capital. “It is a challenge to be an athlete without a guaranteed sponsor. My focus was now to run in Harare at the weekend and forget about Botswana where there is a chance of running against world class fields.
“A surprise call from Bakers Inn changed everything for me. I am grateful for the sponsorship as I want to improve my time for the Senior African Championships consideration. It is the support of organisations like Bakers Inn that we need as local athletes to be able to compete in such events.
“I promise Zimbabweans to do well in Botswana where I have a chance to run with big names like Letsile Tebogo. It would be a dream come true if I face him. Last time I was in the B Race but after winning I am hopeful that I have been elevated to run in the big one with the Olympic champion,” said Tshuma who admires the Botswana sprint king.
“He inspires me, I am working so hard so that I may get a chance to train at his Nike Club in Gaborone from August. I have to impress in every competition,” said Tshuma who is part of the record breaking 4x100m missed relay team.
Daniel Magogo and Gerren Muwishi have also been accepted by the Golden Grand Prix organisers to run the 200m.
Leeford Zuze, who boasts of the fastest 400m by a Zimbabwean this year of 44.91 seconds, Dennis Hove 45.00 and Thandazani Ndlovu 45.14 have been registered for the one lap competition set for Sunday.
Rutendo Vushe and Samukeliso Ndebele will run the 100m.
NAAZ president Tendai Tagara said they are delighted that the national championships whose registration closed on April 15, has a high turnout.
“The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe inter-provincial championships to take place on 25 and 26 April closed on 15 April and the response was very good,” said Tagara.
He said juniors will bid for an international championship to be held in Mauritius in June and the regional games set for Mozambique in December.
“We will be there and we expect a big number of them to turn up for the event with schools and parents sending their athletes who have an opportunity to qualify for scholarships,” said Tagara.
He also confirmed that the record smashing men’s 4x400m will be participating at the African Championships next month as they bid to qualify for the World Championships to be held in China next year.
