Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Zimbabwe sprint stars Raymond Ngavi and Beatin Ndlovu, affectionately known as Reza and Nambhida, officially tied the knot at a colourful ceremony at an iconic Victoria Falls hotel on Saturday.
The stopwatch may have stopped on their competitive careers, but on Saturday it was reset for a different race altogether, a shared life begun as husband and wife, shaped by hope, stability and dreams of growing the Ngavi family in Zimbabwe.
Both carved out proud moments on the track. Ngavi clocked personal bests of 20.94 seconds in the 200m and 10,39 in the 100m, while Ndlovu posted 24,84 in the 200m and 12,89 in the 100m. Those numbers once defined their days.
On Saturday, they gave way to a future measured less by seconds and more by partnership.
Their journey began on the track at the renowned Mosi Striders Athletics Club, a sprinting powerhouse that produced many of Zimbabwe’s finest runners. The club was initially guided by respected coach Kurt Sibako before the baton was later handed to Raymond, whose leadership helped sustain its competitive edge.
As a runner, Raymond, nicknamed Reza, was a fierce but disciplined competitor. He regularly lined up against some of the country’s best athletes, including national 200m record holder Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Dickson Kamungeremu and Ngoni Makusha. He never shied away from elite competition and was known for travelling any distance from Victoria Falls to test himself on the biggest stages.
After hanging up his spikes, Raymond transitioned into coaching, continuing his influence on the sport. Whether Beatin will still allow him to fully immerse himself in that role now remains to be seen.
Raymond is the elder brother to Denzel Ngavi, the National Association of Secondary School Heads 400m record holder, whose rapid rise has drawn national attention.
Ndlovu, fondly known as Nambhida, was once celebrated as Matabeleland North’s fastest woman. She dominated the 100m and 200m events and proudly represented the province at national level. Her explosive speed and consistency made her a crowd favourite and a respected name in Zimbabwean sprinting circles.
The wedding brought together former teammates, coaches and members of the athletics fraternity, all united to celebrate a bond forged through shared training sessions, competition days and a deep love for the sport.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Elephant Hills, the ceremony marked the start of a new race for the couple, one without lanes or finish lines, but rich in partnership and purpose.
