He was not the targeted sprinter

TRUST Mahungu impressed athletics crazy Sobukhazi High School headmaster Cain Ncube, in Marondera in 2024.

He then sent a message to Msitheli that he wanted him at Sobukhazi to learn and train in the sprints. But on the day, Mahungu could not be found and the information reached Methembe Tshuma’s ears and he presented himself at the school and was given a place.

“This boy came to Sobukhazi and said he was Trust and he began training under coach Benny Mwanza. We realised later that it was not the boy we had targeted. At first, he was very lazy and we worked on him hard and he responded positively and became one of our best athletes at the school.

“In 2024 Tshuma did well for us in the inter-district finals and also national finals in Victoria Falls. I am happy he is developing further and we expect more from him. He is an inspirational figure to other athletes at Sobukhazi. The more he excels, the more the motivation for others. We wish him all the success but I have to be honest, we wanted Trust because we had seen him in Marondera,” said Ncube whose passion for athletics is unmatched and has turned Sobukhazi into a very competitive athletics school matching powerhouses such as Mpopoma, Northlea and Magwegwe secondary schools.

Sobukhazi continues to identify young athletes and put them through a programme run by Mwanza and Thandazani Ndlovu.

With Zimbabwean athletes, especially sprinters finding their feet on the international stage, the enthusiasm and appetite remains high in the country.

Momentum has reached fever pitch with district and provincial finals taking place around the country ahead of the nationals to be hosted by Harare in a month’s time.
Tshuma admitted that Mahungu was the targeted athlete.

“I am not sure what pushed me. Trust had been my guy from primary school. The head thought I was Trust, he gave me a place and I have become a better athlete, thanks to Sobukhazi and the headmaster,” said Tshuma who ran a 20.70 seconds 200m, good enough for the African Senior Championships to be held in Ghana in May.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo Metropolitan Athletics Board held its Cadets, Youths, Juniors and Seniors Track and Field Championships at White City Stadium.

Provincial chairman Watson Madanyika was happy with the turn out and competition.
Sacred Heart athlete Kupakwashe Manatsa was first in the Youth Boys category clocking 22.76 seconds in the 200m. He was followed by St Columba’s Thando Muchadonha in 24.99 seconds with Ihlathi’s Wisdom Dangura third in a split time of 24.99 seconds.

The Junior Men’s title of the same distance went to Donalf Maguyaka of White City in 22.53 seconds, with Msitheli Stallions’ Trust Mahungu second in 22.95 seconds and Titus Chikonye third in 23.16 seconds.

Chikonye runs for hoc.
Cryson Kunorobwe of Sacred Heart made the most of Thandazani Ndlovu and Methembe Tshuma’s absence in the senior men’s, winning the event in 21.98 seconds. Iprefertrack’s Munyaradzi Makweta was second in 22.20 seconds and IPT’s Thembeka Khumalo finished in 22.81 seconds.

The National University of Science and Technology’s Tinotenda Kayereka had the best long jump effort of the day at 7.03 metres.

The girls and women’s 100m were exciting with close contests and decent times clocked.
Rotendwa Mpofu who ran as an independent won the Cadet Girls title in 13.71 seconds with Youth, Ruvarashe Nyika of Sacred Heart timing 12.96 seconds to bag first position while in the senior women Iprefetrack’s Monalisa Bayani completed the race in 12.88 seconds.

Makweta won the senior men’s 100m in 10.58 seconds, with teammate Isaac Maphosa 10.81 and Khumalo third in 11.03 seconds in Heat One.

But the best 100m belonged to the second heat in which a blistering start and consistence saw Kunorubwe romp to the fastest time of the day of 10.38 seconds to cement Sacred Heart as a rising powerhouse.

The school was once home to Caroline Ncube a former junior and youth champion who at Grade Seven was among the top three 100 and 200m sprinters in the late 1990s.

Tinotenda Kayereka was second best in 10.56 seconds and Nust’s Kundai Hodza third in 10.73 seconds.