adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) Matabeleland North athletics team head coach Abraham Mbaiwa has called for a shift in the way athletics is conducted in the province. The former Highlanders hitman was speaking after yet another poor showing by the two Matabeleland provinces in the 2016 Nash track and field athletics competition held at Hillcrest College in Mutare on Thursday and Friday.
Harare came first with 28 gold medals, while Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South emerged ninth and eighth respectively.
“The province did well despite the ninth place finish, but I personally think the province did well in terms of individual performances. We need as a province to shift from the once a year competition and have a year round competition. That way, Matabeleland North will do well in national events,” said Mbaiwa.
However, Matabeleland North has five athletes in the Confederation of Southern Africa School Sport Associations (Cosassa) team for the annual meet that will be held in Namibia in May.
Head-in-charge of athletics in the province Thabani Nkomo agreed that the province needs to make a deliberate shift from the way athletics is run in the province.
“We can’t complain and want to hail our athletes; they gave it their best, but on reflection we need to start taking athletics seriously. This business of having athletes running only in January must stop. We competed against seasoned athletes; people who compete now and again and I think as a province we need to change our approach in athletics,” said Nkomo, who is also the headmaster of Dinyane Secondary School in Tsholotsho.
Matabeleland North managed to get just six gold medals amid expectations from Fatima High School pupil Davison Kapandura, who nevertheless got two silver medals and a bronze from his three races.
Kapandura was also selected into the Cossasa national team.
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