Manicaland athletes for COSSASA

Samuel Kadungure Senior Sports Reporter
TEAM Manicaland has produced at least nine budding athletes set to take part in three international competitions following splendid displays at the NASH national competitions held in Chiredzi last week. Five budding athletes, who put up convincing performances that earned themselves slots in Team Zimbabwe that will compete in this year’s edition of Confederation of Schools Sport Association of Southern Africa (Cossasa) athletics competitions to be held in Mauritius.
The competitions will be hosted from April 29 to May 2.

The athletes are Peace Tizora of Nyakatsapa High (triple jump), Leon Tofirei of St Benedict’s (400m), Nyasha Sithole from Chipinge District (400m medley), Vimbai Maisvoreva Dope High (800m) and Alice Maunze (100m hurdles).

Cossasa aims at ensuring the development of school sport in member countries to a level which suits international competitions like the Olympics and other World Cup tournaments.”

The team to represent the country at the competitions is selected during the Nash national athletics competition.
Leon will also be part of Team Zimbabwe that will take part in the Africa Youth Championships, while Rutendo Simupere (Mavhudzi High), Tinotenda Gwikwi (St Faith’s High), Caroline Mhandu (Mamunyadza, Buhera) and Ruvarashe Mzinde (formerly Hillcrest College) have been shortlisted for the All Africa Games.

The country’s 10 provinces converged in Masvingo last week where they battled it for honours in the Nash national athletics completions in which Harare emerged overall winners with 21 gold, nine silver and six bronze medals.

Mashonaland East was second after amassing 18 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals.
The host province Masvingo was third on 17 gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze medals, while Manicaland was fourth having won 16 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze medals. Matabeleland South was fifth with 12 gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals and after it were Mash Central with 11 gold, nine silver and 12 bronze medals.

Mash West was seventh followed by Bulawayo, Mat North and Midlands respectively.
Brian Nhubu, who was in charge of the Team Manicaland, hailed the athletes for displaying nerves of steel and made their presence felt throughout the two day event.

Gwikwi and Justice Dodzo (Hillcrest College) were the toast of Team Manicaland with the former amassing five medals –three gold, silver and bronze, while the later had three gold medals.

Gwikwi and Dodzo’s gold medals were won in the 4×4 Under-20 relay, medley and 4×2. Gwikwi went on to win a silver medal in the 400m and bronze in the 200m races.
Tinotenda Samanga also won two gold medals in the 4×4 and 4x200m relays.

Simupere won a silver medal in the Under-17 4×4 relay together with Tofirei, Hapison Mutukwa and Chenjerai Musakasa.
Musakasa also grabbed a bronze in the 4x200m Under-17 relay.

Caroline Mhandu emerged as the only most talented young long distance runner among the hosts of female competitors as she ruthlessly mowed down any challenge to scoop gold in the 1 5 000 metres race.

She was, however, affected by heat stroke and failed to compete in 1 500m and 8 000m respectively. Caroline has been awarded a coveted scholarship to pursue and chisel her athletic talent in the United States.

Blessing Waison of Tsanzaguru High scooped gold in 10 000m. Venessa Matimbe scooped two gold medals in the girls Under-15 400 and 800m races.
Masimba Masunda scooped gold in the boys Under-20 100m race, while Alice Maunze landed gold in the girls Under-17 100m hurdles.
Nyasha Sithole also won gold in the 400m hurdles.

Nhubu said harsh weather conditions had an effect on the athletes’ performances.
“Chiredzi was too hot and this adversely affected the performance of our athletes. For instance, Caroline ended up suffering from heat stroke, and as a result could not compete in two other races. However, we have five more athletes that have made it into Team Zimbabwe and will be taking part in the COSSASA Games in Mauritius from April 29 to May 2. Leon will take part in these COSSASA Games as well as the Africa Youth Championships,” said Nhubu.