Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube in ACCRA, Ghana
THE president of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ), Tendai Tagara, is a man on cloud nine after witnessing Dennis Hove and Leeford Zuze secure silver and bronze medals respectively at the Africa Senior Championships held at the University of Ghana Stadium on Thursday.
The achievement, delivered by locally based athletes, represents a bold strategic gamble that is now yielding tangible results. Over the past two months, Zimbabwe’s 400m runners have produced a string of notable performances, underlining the effectiveness of the federation’s renewed emphasis on nurturing home-grown talent.
“I am pleased with the team’s performance in Ghana. This project is clearly working — our home-grown approach is paying off for the federation. Six years ago, we made a deliberate decision to focus on developing local talent after realising that many athletes going abroad were not producing the desired results,” said Tagara.
He noted that many Zimbabwean athletes based abroad often fail to honour national call-ups due to academic commitments in colleges or competing sporting obligations within their respective institutions.
At times, structural mismatches between seasons present further complications. With college athletics campaigns typically concluding in June while major international competitions fall around September, athletes frequently find themselves in an off-season phase, often without adequate financial backing to sustain participation in competitive circuits.
Tagara highlighted that strengthened relations with neighbouring countries have also played a pivotal role in the recent positive turn in results.
“Our efforts are beginning to bear fruit. Our relationships with Botswana, South Africa and Zambia are now delivering real value — the linkages we have been building are finally showing results,” said Tagara, whose NAAZ has trained many of Botswana’s high-profile coaches.
“We have invested heavily in training coaches locally, and I have challenged them by reminding them that they come from the same system as Botswana’s coaches. In fact, many Botswana coaches were trained in Bulawayo, so our coaches must rise to the occasion. I am pleased to say they have responded well. What we are seeing now — both from coaches and athletes — is the result of local training and belief in our own systems. That remains our philosophy,” said the man under whose leadership athletics has gained renewed momentum in recent years.
The team itself, mainly composed of amateur athletes based locally and driven largely by passion rather than lucrative contracts, has displayed discipline, unity, and determination — qualities that have significantly contributed to their recent success on the continental stage.
“I am also impressed by the team’s discipline and conduct. The federation’s responsibility is to create a conducive environment for athletes to perform. Once they perform, opportunities in terms of sponsorship, agents, and financial rewards will naturally follow. Look at athletes like Makarawu (Tapiwanashe) and Charamba (Makanakaishe) — they now have strong sponsorship backing.
“For our local athletes, the moment they clock around 44 seconds, doors will open almost immediately. Agencies and sponsors will come forward. That is where the real opportunities are. When I sent coach Lisimati to Botswana for the relays, I emphasised that those competitions are where athletes position themselves for financial growth.
“They are now competing on the same platform as athletes from across the world, and that is where the opportunities lie. The federation has created the right environment, and I am encouraged by how the athletes are responding. Of course, we are still limited in terms of facilities, but we appreciate what the Government is doing to improve the situation,” said Tagara.
The NAAZ boss also commended ongoing and anticipated developments in Zimbabwe’s sporting infrastructure, particularly the refurbishment and reopening of the National Sports Stadium, which he believes will significantly enhance athlete development pathways.
“We are encouraged by the progress on the National Sports Stadium, which will soon reopen and provide young athletes with exposure to top-level facilities such as the B Arena. Facilities at White City Stadium, NUST, and the University of Zimbabwe will also play a vital role in developing our athletes,” said Tagara.
Looking ahead, attention turns to what lies in store for the athletes following the Ghana championships. Is the curtain coming down on their season, or are there further competitive opportunities on the horizon?
Traditionally, the Africa Senior Championships have served as the climax of continental competition, effectively signalling the end of the season for many national federations. However, for Zimbabwe’s rising crop of athletes, the journey appears far from over.
“Some of our athletes are set to travel to Europe, where they will compete until the end of July — arrangements are almost complete. Others will be competing in South Africa, while the Youth Games scheduled for August present yet another important platform,” said Tagara, with the January African Games also in mind.
Buoyed by the encouraging performances recorded this year, Zimbabwe is expected to field one of its largest contingents at upcoming competitions, reflecting renewed confidence within the athletics fraternity.
Coach Phakamile Lisimati described the team’s recent successes as strong indicators of what could be achieved at next year’s major global and continental competitions, including the World Championships in Beijing, China, and the African Games in Egypt.
“These performances are clear indicators that we are on the right track for the African Games. We are becoming a team to watch, particularly in the 400m event at the World Championships in Beijing. As a nation, we are building something special. We are confident of making the final and being among the top teams at the World Championships. This time, we are aiming higher — we believe a medal is within reach,” said Lisimati.
