adminGames medal to the bronze he scooped at the World Athletics Championship last week.
Makusha won a bronze in the long jump at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, becoming the first Zimbabwean to win a medal at the event.
The United States-based Zimbabwean track and field star athlete came third in the 12-man long jump final behind Dwight Phillips of the US and Australia’s Mitchell Watt. Makusha, who missed a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in August 2008 by a whisker in the same long jump event, came good this time around, coming third with a good leap of 8.29 metres.
The athlete had been expected to head straight for Maputo, Mozambique for the All Africa Games with high hopes of a gold but his participation is now in doubt.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Joseph Mungwari, who returned home yesterday from South Korea, said academic commitments were threatening to scuttle Makusha’s participation.
“Ngoni did the country very proud by winning the medal at the World Championship.
“It’s the first time that a Zimbabwean has done that in athletes in our history. Now he has returned to his base to sort out issues at school,” said Mungwari.
Mungwari said Makusha, along another top sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure are doubtful for the All Africa Games.
Mvumvure reached the semi-finals in his sprints in Daegu.
“I do not think that they will be making it to Maputo too soon because they have to apply for visas and that will take some time again.
“Their programme is also tight because of examinations in the next few days and they have to get a special waiver to miss them,” said Mungwari.
Mungwari said NAAZ would only be able to get the clear picture by the end of the week, if Makusha and Mvumvure will be able to make it for the All-Africa Games.
“We are still hoping that they will come because if they are out then it means we have weakened our chances of winning medals in Maputo,” said Mungwari.
NAAZ, Mungwari said will however, pursue with the Sports and Recreation Commission to have Makusha parade his medal to the public in Zimbabwe.
“We want to ask the SRC as is the tradition that Makusha will parade the medal because that is the highest standards we have set in athletics so far.
“If possible he could just come on a Friday and present before leaving the next day,” said Mungwari.
Online Reporter