Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS Harare Amateur Swimming clubs brace for the upcoming Senior Championships to be staged at Les Brown Swimming Pool starting next week, Dorado Swim Club are aiming for a better show and having their upcoming swimmers showcase their skills.
The provincial competition is held over two weekends between November and December.
It will run from November 28 to 30 before taking a short break and resuming from December 5 to 7.
Over 300 swimmers drawn from HAS clubs — Spartans, Vikings, Wild Orcas, Dorado, Sharks, Pirates, Harare Otters and Highlands — are expected to take part.
Dorado coach Masi Takaedza said they have been working towards their participation and, as the championships draw closer is confident their swimmers will deliver.
“We have got more swimmers this time, but mainly juniors.
“We have been working well. I think most of our swimmers have been in the water. I think we are gearing up and we hope that we will be ready come next week.
“We have got quite a few young swimmers who are showing promise, I mean who are coming up,” said Takaedza.
The provincial championships also serve as a selection competition for the National Senior and Junior Championships to be held early next year.
“We hope this will be a platform for them to see where they are and what they need to do in time for nationals next year.
“We are excited, we are looking forward to these championships. We think that we will do well.
“I think we are doing well comparing where we were and where we are now. We have come a long way and we hope that we will continue (doing well),” said Takaedza.
Last season Dorado placed fourth but with an increased number of swimmers expected to be part of the team, they will be chasing for more points this time around to improve their overall ranking.
However, they are alive to the competition they will face from clubs such as defending champions Spartans, Vikings, who were the runners-up, and Sharks, among other leading clubs.
Spartans are already oozing with confidence after retaining the National Sprint Gala title last month in Bulawayo.
HAS marketing convenor Tendai Mazike said the build-up to the meet is on course and having had several competitions leading up to the championships they are anticipating a competitive event.
“In terms of swimmers we have 382, there should be an increase of swimmers from last year.
“After a long training season, we are looking at our swimmers being in form, either breaking records or getting personal best times.
“We have got two national events, the junior nationals and the senior nationals, and this is where we are going to select our junior swimmers and seniors for the nationals.
“We are expecting our swimmers to be highly competitive. It’s a very competitive championship,” said Mazike.
Some of the swimmers had the chance to step up their game last week when they participated in the Mufakose Developmental Gala and will be out to build on their previous performances when the provincial championships begin.
