Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are continuing with efforts to capacitate their members in various events and will next month hold the World Athletics Coaches Education and Certification System (CECS) Level Two throws course in Bulawayo.
The course targeting 15 coaches is due to run from November 9 to 14 at White City Stadium.
NAAZ director of coaching, talent identification and development Phakamile Lisimati revealed that they would want to give equal attention to all events.
“This course is specifically targeting throwers and coaches who are into throws.
“We are almost at a full class with coaches who are specialising in throws, who have already registered,’’ Lisimati said.
“We are aiming at spreading our coaches and coaching not only into track events but also looking into jumps, throws and the field events where we believe there is a lot of hidden talent.
“There is lot of potential that our country and athletes are sitting on.” If all is given equal time, equal training, and equal qualification, I believe we might pick up or bring out a lot of potential that is amongst our upcoming athletes.” The course will be facilitated by an international expert appointed by World Athletics, Joel Severe from Mauritius.
Severe is an experienced lecturer who has worked as a national coach for Mauritius on a number of assignments including the World Championships and Olympic Games.
He will lead sessions for shot put, javelin, hammer and discus.
“Our focus is on targeting the schools, elite coaches who are working in schools, and also universities and colleges to come out and explore the throwing department.
“We believe that these throws coaches can unpack the potential talent that is in these events.
“We are looking at Zimbabwe bringing in a number of throwers and qualifying for these world events,” added Lisimati.
Zimbabwe has seen some promising performances at the world stage in track events and marathon with the likes of Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Makanakaishe Charamba and Isaac Mpofu registering encouraging results.
The NAAZ director of coaching, talent identification and development believes they can turn around the fortunes in field events.
“It hasn’t been an easy road for the throwers in the country and looking at the history, we haven’t had a number of throwers qualifying for these major competitions. “But we believe if we invest in these departments, starting by building and grooming the coaches, I am sure in the near future we will have others coming up and going to represent the country.”
It will be followed by the sprints and middle- and long-distance Level Two course in December.
“This has been brought back by demand from the coaches that have done Level One for both sprints and middle and long distance.
“We are expecting a quality house of coaches coming in. We are looking at coaches coming in from our neighbouring countries to take part as these courses rarely get offered around our continent.”
Lisimati reckons that the impact of the capacity-building exercises is being felt in the sport.
He went on to say the courses are making a difference: “They have made a very big impact on the sport of athletics. “We are now being recognised. We are now being ranked. And we have athletes that are now almost competing for the podium.
“Yes, it takes time, but the courses are very impactful, and they are very important to Zimbabwe.”
The throws and middle- and long-distance courses were initially pencilled in for October but were rescheduled, as the facilitators had other commitments during that period.
