Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, [email protected]
FOLLOWING an outstanding performance by Zimbabwe’s 4x400m relay team at the Debswana World Relays over the weekend, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) director of coaching Phakamile Lisimati says he is encouraged by the rise of locally-based talent making an impact on the global stage.
Zimbabwe’s men’s 4x400m relay team, comprising captain Gerren Muwishi, Dennis Hove, Leeford Zuze and Thandazani Ndhlovu, delivered a memorable performance, setting a new national record on their way to a fifth-place finish in the final.
It was a historic achievement, marking the first time a Zimbabwean team has reached the World Relays final. In addition, their performance secured qualification for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, China, where they will compete alongside the world’s best.
For Lisimati, the success of locally-based athletes competing at the highest level reflects the potential within the country and the benefits of investing in home-grown talent.
“As you all can see, all our athletes are local athletes. Home-grown solution is the way to go.
“We began this home-grown solution some time back when we had our local marathon runners representing us. And now it’s our local sprinters that are taking us to the world stage and to the world finals. This is just an amazing feat and a historic feat for Athletics Zimbabwe.”
Lisimati, who is also the national head coach, paid tribute to the coaches working with the athletes at club level, acknowledging their contribution to the team’s success.
“We are quite excited, and again we always appreciate the work done by the individual coaches to these athletes at their club level. We also appreciate the funding that was done by the major stakeholders behind this performance of the team, which is Naaz and Zimbabwe Olympic Committee. Our sponsors to this event and all the key stakeholders that were involved,” added Lisimati.
While Naaz has traditionally focused on facilitating scholarships for athletes, particularly in the United States, to enhance development and exposure, the association has now adopted a more deliberate approach centred on nurturing locally-based talent.
This marked the second consecutive appearance for the 4x400m relay team at the World Relays, following their participation in Guangzhou, China, last year.
However, their previous outing ended in disappointment after the team was disqualified in the second qualifying round.
Their recovery to claim a fifth-place finish in Botswana represents significant progress and a major milestone for Zimbabwean athletics.
“We are glad and this is a very important step in the history of athletics in Zimbabwe.
“I am just remembering when we went to Guangzhou last year, our team didn’t do very well but we took that as a learning curve, a step and we took all the criticism that we got from everyone who was looking, following and behind the team.
“I am happy to say 50 percent of the team is the same boys that were in Guangzhou and they are still doing well,” Lisimati said.
Ndhlovu, who joined the team for this year’s competition, proved to be a key addition, anchoring the relay with composure.
“The competition was tough because of the high level, of course, but I didn’t feel too much pressure. As the anchor, I trusted my teammates to do their best and put me in a good position. It was a great experience overall.”
The 21-year-old believes the experience will play a key role in his development as an athlete.
“Breaking the national record twice in just a few weeks shows that we are capable of so much more. It also helps me grow as an individual and gets me used to performing at a high level. For me, the focus now is on the African Championships. My goal is to win a medal there, both in the relay and as an individual,” said Ndhlovu.
The Africa Senior Championships are scheduled to run from May 12 to 17 in Accra, Ghana.
