Lovemore Dube [email protected]
STINGRAYS Swimming Academy of Bulawayo has sent off its back and butterfly stroke star Kwandokuhle Nkomazana with a message of encouragement.
Nkomazana was set to leave Bulawayo on Saturday morning for Harare enroute to Dakar, Senegal where he will represent Zimbabwe in the Youth Olympics.
The Youth Olympics are being held in Africa for the first time. They will give the next generation of athletes a feel of the grander stage.
“Bon Boyage Kwando! Huge congratulations to our very own Kwando on qualifying! What an incredible achievement! Wishing you travelling mercies and a wonderful experience in Dakar. Go fly the Stingrays and Zimbabwe flags high,” wrote Stingrays in a social media post.
A visit to the Stingrays heated pool at the Cyprianos’ home in Khumalo on Friday, found the situation business as usual. There was little to suggest that Nkomazana would be leaving a day later for the big stage.
Nkomazana was getting enough motivation from near the starting blocks with Olympian Denilson giving the lad the push with coach Chipo Machemwa.
Denilson took part in the 2024 Paris Olympics after a glowing career in American university sport.
“I have been training hard here with my friends and coaches. I have been working with My Cyprianos who has been to the senior Olympics, he has really helped me,” said Nkomzana.
Machemwa said Nkomazana’s success was more like a fulfillment of founding club director, the late Edmore Cyprianos’ wish of sending athletes to the Olympics.
Denilson broke new ground when he qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Nkomazana becomes the second Stingrays swimmer to take part in the Olympics.
The swimming team consists of Alexis Johnsen, Connor Grist, Daniella Vikki and
Kwandokuhle Nkomazana.
