Monkey off Makusha’s back

Deputy Sports Editor

FOR Zimbabwe sprinter Ngoni Makusha, the road to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been long and winding.

It has been a journey four years in the making and one full of many twist and turns, injuries, long cumbersome camps and most recently bio-bubbles and quarantines.

The fact that it came via a universality slot or a wildcard entry, as he puts it, takes nothing from the achievement.

The 26-year-old is just happy to finally get the monkey off his back.

“It really means the world to me.

“Making the grade at the Games is something I have been working towards for the past four years or so, and I was really chuffed when I received that call informing me of the slot.

“Everything I have done up to this point has been towards competing at the Olympics.

“The fact that it came via a wildcard entry takes nothing away from that. In fact, it helped take the pressure away from the whole qualification process, and now I can start preparing for the Games proper,” he said.

Makusha is the recipient of a special slot offered to the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) last week, who in turn gave it to the sprinter.

The wildcard entry couldn’t have come at a better time, as the 100- and 200-metre track star was fast running out of time before the June 30 qualification deadline.

That he was also nursing a slight hamstring injury didn’t help matters.

“I had a little strain on my hamstring and had been advised by my physio to rest.

“The injury occurred about two weeks ago when I was racing in Durban.

“I just started feeling pain in my leg after the race.

“Luckily, it’s nothing serious and I am okay now.”

Makusha had set his sights on travelling to Nigeria and help the country’s relay qualify for the Olympics.

Unfortunately, that trip has since been cancelled .

Now, the track star will go on a mini-training camp before departing for the Games slated for July 23 to August 8.

“I will be going on a mini-camp with my coach, training six days a week at the B arena, and hope to be ready for the Games.”

In terms of goals, he is targeting a semi-final berth but hopes to make it all the way to the finals.

“My main goal is to try and make it to the semi-finals, as that will be huge for me.

“If I can get to the finals, I will be over the moon.

“But, this is my first time at a stage like this and making it past the heats and into the semi-finals will be a huge achievement for me.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself and plan to just go out there and do my best.