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Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S Cephas Pasipamire did not take part in last Saturday’s World Athletics Championships marathon event because of injury.
Phakamile Lisimati of Matabeleland South Athletics Board who travelled as the manager of the team said the athlete sprained his ankle two days before the event.
He was advised by medical experts that he should return to Zimbabwe as he had torn ligaments which would not have enabled him to run even if the swelling had eased.
It was a sad blow for Zimbabwe who had sent just two athletes.
Sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure was knocked out in the second round of the 100m event.
Two other marathon runners had qualified for the event but did not recover on time for the championships in a poor season for Zimbabwe athletics.
“Cephas sprained his ankle two days before the event. His ankle was swollen and he was sent for X-rays which indicated that he had also torn his ligaments. It was a sad way for us to end the World Championships,” said the Matabeleland South coach who has in recent years replaced the old order of successful coaches who include Ken Nyape, Bhekuzulu Khumalo, James Rugwevera and Benson Chauke.
Of late not many athletes have been attaining qualifying standards locally and abroad.
In fact it appears very remote that a local would be able to rise in spring, middle and field events and cause a stir because of few races.
Costs of hiring facilities such as the National Sports Stadium, University of Zimbabwe and National University of Science and Technology, whose artificial tracks cost up to $1 000 per day, are prohibitive.
Over and above that there is the wind gauge and electronic timers to be hired if the records are to stand and be recognised internationally.
The collapse of the Chamber of Mines Championships is another factor affecting senior athletes.
The domestic competition scene has lost its vibrancy and many athletes are retiring early because of lack of activity.
Another factor has been the boardroom battles afflicting athletics and the quality of the administrators who are not well sourced to impress would-be sponsors.
The sport’s biggest problem has been politics of patronage where athletics’ heart and soul has been sold out for external trips.
Zimbabwe will now aim to regroup and build a strong team for the 2015 All-Africa Games and 2016 Olympic Games.
The just-ended Zimbabwe National Youth Games in which young stars Sean Banda, Andile Khumalo, Yvonne Hativagoni and Michael Songore shone, should be the start of a new era in athletics.
An all inclusive approach will have to be embraced by the Tendai Tagara executive and unite the fragmented athletics family.
“We now need all players – former and present to work together so that we can take athletics back to where it was,” said National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe vice-president Clifton Mutize.
Online Reporter