Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube In ACCRA, Ghana
ZIMBABWE medal hopeful in the 200m event and a key member of the 4x100m relay team, Makanakaishe Charamba has pulled out of the African Senior Championships after an injury.
“He is feeling tightness in his legs and we can’t risk,” said national coach Phakamile Lisimati on Friday afternoon, hours before the scheduled 4x100m final.
Charamba had on Thursday evening helped Zimbabwe qualify for the final with a blistering final leg of the 4x100m race.
Lisimati, who on Thursday had made changes to the same team after another top athlete pulled out, could not afford further tempering with the team.
Ace runner Tapiwanashe Makarawu suffered a pulled muscle before the 4x100m relay event on Thursday, almost derailing the team’s hopes for a place in the final.
Lisimati threw in captain Gerren Muwishi in Makarawu’s place.
Muwishi who appeared ready to serve in the hour of need, helped the team qualify with Methembe Tshuma running the first leg, Muwishi second, Ngoni Makusha third and Charamba final.
With Muwishi set to run the 4x400m relay on Saturday, Lisimati decided against tiring him and also throwing young Derrick Mathuthu.
“I could not afford to temper with our 4x400m. I came up with a decision to pull out the 4x100m relay team instead of risking another injury or loads problems, Muwishi will run in the 4x400m, his speciality, am glad Thandazani Ndhlovu has recovered from the 400m debacle.
“It is sad that Charamba will no longer even take part in the 200m, his favourite event in which we looked forward to see what he can do,” said Lisimati.
Charamba was taking part in his first Africa Senior Championships.
Zimbabwe’s interest in the competition is yet to end with 100m silver medalist in the hurdles yet to run the 400m and the men’s 4x400m still to run on Saturday, both barring injury with high hopes of success.
The games will end on Sunday with Team Zimbabwe leaving for home on Monday night.
Zimbabwe has won two silver medals and a bronze here.
Miller was second in the 100m hurdles, Dennis Hove picked the other silver in the 400m with Leeford Zuze making it three medals on the table with a third place finish for bronze in the one lap event.
