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Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Following his re-election as the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) president, Thabani Gonye says the focus remains on athletes and ensuring they make an impact at the next edition of the Olympics.
Gonye first took over as ZOC president in 2021, and this will be his second term in office after winning yesterday’s elections held at the quadrennial general assembly at a local hotel in Harare.
Unlike in 2021, when he was unopposed, Gonye was up against Ringisai Mapondera and secured 15 votes against the latter’s 12.
Going into the elections, the seasoned administrator indicated he was looking at continuity, and yesterday reaffirmed that the game plan remains the same.
“Basically, the game plan remains the same in terms of focusing on the athletes, doing what needs to be done for our athletes to perform at the levels we are targeting by 2028.
“We really need to move into a winning position, and I believe that the work that has been covered places us in a position where we can start expecting success at that level.”
Some of the highlights from his first term in office included improving the number of athletes who qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from five at Tokyo 2020 to seven last year.
Two of the athletes, sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, reached the men’s 200m final.
“What it means then is that we need to start looking at our focus areas in terms of athlete development, athlete recognition, empowerment, and well-being.
“We also need to activate sports science at an early age, where, when we start profiling our young athletes, we know the investment we are making is targeted correctly, and we are nurturing and developing them into world beaters as they progress through their development journey.
“We need to start utilising sports science and technology in our development,” said Gonye.
Some of the disciplines he is focusing on include athletics, particularly events such as sprints, relays, and the marathon.
“We have a few outstanding athletes in various sports codes.
“We need to focus more resources into these because, as we discussed earlier during the assembly, one of the things that comes out very clearly is that our athletes need more support before they start winning medals.
“When they start winning medals, it means they have already arrived; it becomes easier for us to harness resources at that point.
“This is why our focus is to walk a journey that enables them to reach the point where they start winning,” said Gonye.
Fredreck Ndlovu also retained the first vice president post, while Merit Munzwembiri comes in as the second vice president.
Mxolisi Ndlovu is the treasurer.
The seven board members are Olympian Abel Chimukoko, Charmaine Chamboko, Tawanda Sithole, Lizzie Mupure, Xolisani Gwesela, Abigail Mnikwa, and Edson Chirowodza.
Rudo Neshamba comes in as the Athletes’ Commission representative.
Rudo Magundani, Blessed Ngwenya, Nyasha Sai, Taona Sibanda, and Kelvin Sabao were elected to the ZOC Disciplinary Committee.
Online Reporter