Chronicle EditorInnocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Amateur Swimming Board (MASB) says 2017 was a successful year for them and set a foundation for the re-building of a vibrant swimming league in Bulawayo.
MASB press and liaison officer Thomas Werret said they will be looking to build on this year’s success in their drive to revive swimming in this part of the country in 2018.
“It has been a very successful year. We sent more swimmers to South Africa than in any other year and our number of affiliated swimmers has risen. A number of old records tumbled this year, which is evidence that we are on the right track,” Werret said.
“Schools have played a pivotal role in the progress we have made. They have shown passion for the sport and encouraged students to take up swimming, which has helped us a lot,” he said.
Stingrays Swimming Academy members Denilson Cyprianos and Quinton Tayali are in the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Championships in Durban, South Africa, as they target next year’s Youth Olympic Games.
The two swimmers have been in top form since the beginning of the swimming season in September and are taking part in their first competition outside the country in the 2017/18 season.
Riana Rollo, Chiedza Mtetwa, Sancia Bravo and Stacey Sayi have been impressive in the girls’ swimming.
Some of the top local clubs include Petra Swimming Academy, Zambezi Tigers, Barracudas, Falcon, Crusaders, School of Swimming, Dolphins and Penguins.
Swimming is still considered an elite sport in Zimbabwe, with only the well-up involved in the sport, a belief MASB dismissed.
“We want people to come and support the sport. We want people from all walks of life to join us, as we aim to make the sport bigger and better. We want people to come in their numbers to support the swimmers every week.”
The Matabeleland Amateur League programme is set to kick-off in the first week of 2018.
Bongani Ndlovu