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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching, talent identification and development Lisimati Phakamile says next month’s national competition will be key in the finalisation of their team for the Africa Senior Championships.
The national championships are due to take place on June 8 at White City Stadium, in Bulawayo.
The meet will also serve as a selection event for other upcoming competitions, including the Junior African Championships.
Zimbabwe’s athletes will use the African Senior Championships, scheduled for June 21-26 in Douala, Cameroon, as the last qualifying event for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
“My coaching department is looking forward to this event as it is one of the main selection platforms for athletes that we want to use or to represent Zimbabwe for us, be it at the Junior Championships, Africa Senior Championships, or any other upcoming event.
“We use this platform which is recognised by World Athletics to select and identify our top athletes in the country.
“We are quite excited because this is the main selection platform amongst other international events and international competitions that our athletes have been going to.
“We have had athletes running in South Africa, and Zambia, and some have been to Botswana but we are saying our national championships is a very important day in our calendar.
“Our final selection will be on that day and, probably, we expect to announce our teams immediately thereafter,” said Phakamile.
NAAZ have indicated that it being an Olympic year, they would want to field their top athletes at the upcoming African Championships with the hope that a few more will cut the Games.
They are also going for the relay events, fielding a 4x100m relay team to challenge for a slot at the Olympic Games.
Two marathon runners Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora, sprinters Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwa Makarawu have already earned their tickets to Paris.
So far athletics has the highest number of athletes for Team Zimbabwe.
“We are expecting qualification from one or two athletes. We are very hopeful and confident that more athletes might make it.
“We are also looking at our men’s relay team. We are hoping that if all is well, the team can perform exceptionally well in Cameroon and make it to the Games,” said Phakamile.
For the relay, there are two remaining slots for the Games.
NAAZ are also hopeful that the United States-based pair of triple jumper Chengetayi Mapaya and sprinter Takudzwa Chiyangwa will also cut to the Olympics.
They are hoping some of the athletes make it through the world rankings.
Apart from being the final selection platform for athletes with the potential to make the grade for major competitions, the national meet gives athletes the chance to improve their times.
For this year’s edition, NAAZ are anticipating to get some regional athletes gracing the meet.
“We, as the coaches, are quite excited about the upcoming event as it is a very important day on the coaches’ calendar.
“It is our main national championship where provinces come together to set and compete for different upcoming international slots and better their times and performances.
“We will be having all our local and some regional athletes coming in to compete and fight for the honours of being national champions and being recognised as top runners in the land, in Zimbabwe,” Phakamile said.
Head coach for junior and youth teams Briad Nhubu is expecting the likes of Valentine Datawa and Hassan Maganezi to compete in Bulawayo as they are on course for qualification to the World Under-20 Championships.
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