Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER being honoured for their outstanding achievements in the 2025 athletics season, Takunda Mutizwa and Trey Chimunya are confident of achieving more.
Mutizwa was crowned Male Youth Athlete of the Year at the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe 2025 Excellence Awards in Bindura and Chimunya walked away with the Male Junior Athlete of the Year accolade.
They are now aiming higher and would want to qualify for next year’s World Athletics Under-20 Championships in the US.
Mutizwa and Chimunya were part of the teams that competed at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Under-18/Under-20 Champion-ships.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub Mutizwa said:
“I feel happy that I have won this award and that all my hard work is now paying off, and that I am being recognised for the hard work that I am putting in.
“It’s just a glimpse of my potential and I believe there is so much more that I can achieve and so much more that I am still yet to achieve. So, this is just a stepping stone . . . a part of a long journey ahead of me.”
“Next year, definitely World Under-20s, that’s my main goal, qualify for those early in the year and then work hard so that I can get a medal at the World Under-20s.”
Chimunya was a double medallist at the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games when picking up two gold medals in 100m and 200m. He went on to participate at the CAA Under-18/Under-20 meet.
“I feel very happy right now because I am the best junior athlete for the 2025 season and that’s a huge achievement,” said Chimunya.
“The 2025 season was very nice because I was given a chance to represent Zimbabwe in Namibia for the Region 5 Youth Games. I won both the 100m and 200m with a gold medal.
“And after that I was also given a chance to go to Nigeria and I was fifth on the 100m final, making me the fifth placed athlete in Africa, in 2025.”
Tulange Mudenda and Anesu Nyahuma got the Female Youth and Junior Athlete of the Year respectively.
Mudenda said she was delighted to be among the 2025 top performers.
The Junior Coach of the Year award went to McGregor Manuhwa.
“I feel happy, I feel proud of myself.
And indeed, it’s something that is going to give me energy going back again to the starting block and try to produce as many athletes as possible not for the sake of anything else but for passion itself,” said Manuhwa.
