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Mandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
SHEER training and employment of qualified technical people has contributed immensely to the performance of athletes from Midlands State University (MSU) as shown by their performance during annual Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (Zusa) games held in the city recently.
This was said by James Chivivi, the MSU director of sport on the sidelines of the just ended Zusa games that were hosted by the National University of Science and Technology at a number of sporting arenas across Bulawayo.
During these games MSU gave the University of Zimbabwe a run for their money in track and field events.
“No magic but sheer practice, we have been runners up to the University of Zimbabwe for a number of years and I made it a policy last year that we must close the gap. We used to be beaten by at least 3-6 medals but I am happy to say that this time around because it was a conceited effort which came from both my coaches and my athletes,’’ Chivivi said.
Seeing that track and field events are vital, Chivivi said they have two senior coaches for these events.
“The whole idea being that we know that track and field events are very essential and they need a technical person to assist them which is what we did this year, we have two senior people who are coaching both track and field events,” explained Chivivi.
True to his word in this year’s edition of the Zusa games cluster one MSU managed to narrow the gap by winning 23 gold medals against 26 won by UZ. In terms of silver medals, the two universities both won 16 medals each while in the bronze category MSU scooped 18 against 16 by UZ.
The second Zusa cluster games are slated in for 11-14 April at Africa University in Mutare, athletes are going to take part in the following disciplines rugby, football, netball, tennis, darts, pool, chess, and basketball, men and women except rugby.
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