NAAZ eye All Africa Games medal haul

contribute significantly to the country’s total medal haul from the All-Africa Games in Mozambique.
A provisional team of 20 athletes has been submitted for consideration for the Pan African Games with Mungwari setting a target of at least three medals from the track and field events.
NAAZ used the Inter-Provincial Track and Field Championships at the University of Zimbabwe on July 16 as the final selection event for the team to Maputo.
The list has since been submitted to the Team Zimbabwe secretariat.
“I think our preparations have gone on well because we held a couple of domestic and international competitions for our athletes.
“We have held competitions in Bindura and at the UZ and have now given the team to the secretariat.
“Our job now is on polishing but it has not been easy coming up with the list.
“However, we might be getting three or more medals and we are also trying to come up with a side for the World Championships, which are coming earlier,” said Mungwari.
The 17th International Association of Athletics Federation World Championships are set for Daegu, South Korea, at the end of August while the All-Africa Games are running from September 3 to 18.
“We are looking at sending maybe six athletes to the World Championships that are coming a bit earlier than the All-Africa Games.
“But looking at our team for the All-Africa Games, we have blended the juniors who are graduating and the seasoned athletes.
“Most of our junior athletes have done well in competitions like the African Junior Championship in Botswana, competitions in Namibia and Mozambique.
“There had been a lot of domestic competitions but it was the international events that helped the athletes gauge themselves,” said Mungwari.
The NAAZ team to Maputo is led by United States-based long jumper and sprinter Ngoni Makusha.
Veteran sprinter Brian Dzingai could also be coming for his swansong Pan African Games while seasoned middle distance runner Kelvin Pangiso and Nelton Ndebele are also in the team.
Another United States-based athlete – Gabriel Mvumvure and David Tinago have been included in the list.
African Youth Champion in 100m and 200m, Tinashe Mutanga, Zuva Bvekerwa, Abdul Simbili, Ziscosteel athlete Francis Zimwara, Cornelious Mudzingwa and Dennis Bvekerwa have been included.
United States-based female triple jumper Namatirai Maugara, Letwine Mharakurwa, Grace Jumo, Sharon Taengwa, Faithful Goremusandu, Thandiwe Nyathi, Irene Ndoreka and Rutendo Nyahora make up the women’s team.
Mungwari has warned the Zimbabwean athletes to brace for tight competition from the Nigerians and South Africans.