adminSenior Sports Reporter
MANICALAND Athletics Board (MAB) chairperson Joshua “Zesa” Matume acquired International Association for Athletics Federations (IAAF) Level Three coach education certificate in Nairobi, Kenya, late last year.
Matume’s recent acquisition of the IAAF qualification was an icing on the cake for MAB after one of their coaches, Brian Nhubu, from Makoni district, was also upgraded to the position of national youths head coach.
The province now boasts of more than 10 IAAF Coach Education Certification System (Level 2) holders while national level one coaches are now more than 200.
Matume said: “We hope all this acquired knowledge, if it is well shared with all stakeholders and members, then we are destined for success. 2014 proved to be a very fruitful year for the MAB as we managed to achieve one of our major goals, which is to work hand in glove with our stakeholders.
“The main stakeholder, in this case, is National Association for School Heads (NASH). NASH is the pool which supplies all the clubs with athletes. As a result of a sound relationship with NASH we managed to contribute significantly, as a province, to the just ended Africa Union Youth Games held in Bulawayo.
“NASH Manicaland did us proud because we managed to field at least seven athletes in the Under-20 national athletics team.
“Most of them have competed in very important events like the World Junior Championships in China and Ukraine, African Junior Championships South Africa, Nigeria and Botswana, Regional Junior championships held in Zimbabwe and other national events.”
The likes of Brian Mada from St Faith’s, Nyasha Mutsetse from Makoni Athletics Club, Caroline Mhandu from Mamunyadza Secondary School in Buhera and Ruvarashe Muzinde of Hillcrest are some of the athletes from Manicaland who did well in the just-ended year.
Matume said the province has a number of events lined up for 2015.
“This year we have quite a good number of events lined up for our athletes, coaches and officials. Manicaland is hosting the Zimbabwe National Youth Games this year so the province should be well prepared for this big event.
“The coaches should work hard in assisting the athletes, the officials need to be upgraded so that they can professionally handle the event.
“This year all athletes, coaches and officials shall be kept busy starting from January 2015 up to December,” he said.
He added that the association will facilitate a number of refresher courses for administrators and coaches.
“On January 24 we are going to have a National Level Two course in Buhera. The other districts shall receive similar courses as the season progresses.
“It is also imperative to note that our tertiary institutions are not going to be spared in the preparations for big events because they play a very important role in the development of athletics in the province.
“The relationship between tertiary institutions and MAB is so amazing. These institutions produce athletes, coaches and officials. We are expecting quite a lot from them in the development of senior athletes. For us to realise this positive development in the province all athletes, clubs schools, colleges, coaches, and officials should affiliate to MAB. The procedures and requisite fees are available at the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) offices in Mutare,” he said.
Online Reporter