Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE junior athletics coach McGregor Manuhwa is confident about the country’s youth team’s performance at the 3rd Confederation of African Athletics Combined Under-18/Under-20 Championships in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
The meet, which starts today is scheduled to run until Sunday. Manuhwa’s team has undergone rigorous preparations and the coach believes they’ll deliver impressive results, potentially collecting several gold, silver and bronze medals.
He is also happy about the balance in the team.
Team Zimbabwe travelled in batches with the first group arriving in Nigeria on Monday and the second yesterday.
Some of the athletes were part of the just-ended African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games.
“Because of a number of things that have been done by NAAZ and SRC, the team is in a position to collect a number of gold, medals, silver and bronze.
“The competition is going to be more tense, tougher than the previous Namibia competition, but because of the preparations that have been done we are going to deliver.
“Why do I say so? Because it’s been a year and a half where we saw a couple of races that were mounting up to the previous Namibia competition and the current junior Championships.
“So, you find a number of athletes that were being traced up to this one.
“We talk about Kimberly Kachambwa coming in as a youth, but now she is better off.
“We have Trey Chimunya now having matured, bringing better times,” said Manuhwa.
Kachambwa and Chimunya were part of the team that competed at the same meet in 2023 in Ndola, Zambia.
“The team has had good preparations that we are expecting that the team is going to give us some podium results.
“We also have the likes of Leeroy Chishaya getting a gold in Namibia.
“Those are some of the young people that we see giving us chances of medal hopes in the junior championships.”
In Ndola, Zimbabwe had most of the medals coming from field events.
However, as they go into this year’s edition, Manuhwa said they are optimistic of both track and field events.
“Yes, it might be the same, but now we have got a balance because yes, we see Prosper Zimbango is in again.
“And also, he’s been working hard to improve his distances both for shot put and discus.
“Then we also have a balance, we also have the previous Ndola athletes, Trey Chimunya having a good PB now, a 10.45, and a number of sprinters again having matured from the previous Ndola meet.
“So, it won’t be just us looking at the field events, but we are also going to be expecting much from the track events as well,” said Manuhwa.
Chimunya posted an impressive performance in Namibia, winning gold in both 100m and 200m.
He is up for the Under-20 men’s 100m heats set for this afternoon.
He is part of the group that arrived in Nigeria yesterday and admitted he has not had enough time to rest, having returned home last Friday from Namibia.
But said he is mentally prepared for the competition.
“This time I am going to be doing 100m only.
“I am expecting a new PB because in Namibia I ran a 10.47, so if I get something like a 10.40, that will be better.
“Mentally I am strong because I have been working as well, so there is nothing to be scared of or afraid of because physically, I am also fit.
“I am good to go,” said Chimunya.
Events lined up for today include 100m heats for Under-18 and Under-20 men and women, 400m heats and women’s 3000m final, triple jump and high jump.
