Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NAAZ are finalising Zimbabwe’s athletics squad for December’s African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Maputo after using the revived Zimbabwe National Youth and Paralympic Games as their final selection event.
The team will be announced through the Sport and Recreation Commission within days.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of coaching, talent identification and development Phakamile Lisimati said the Marondera competition gave selectors a final opportunity to assess athletes already on their long list.
It also brought eligible school-leavers into the selection process.
“Selection for the AUSC Region 5 Games has been going on for some time, and we had a long list of athletes before the Games,” Lisimati said.
“We then decided to use the Youth Games as the final stage of our selection, with our main target being athletes who might have left school but still fall within the mandated age range.
“We are now finalising the selection and should be making the announcement through the Sport and Recreation Commission in the next couple of days.”
The AUSC Region 5 Games will run from December 4 to 13 in Maputo.
Lisimati was encouraged by the standard of competition in Marondera following the return of the Youth Games after a six-year absence.
“It was quite a good event, especially given that the Games were returning after a long absence,” he said.
“The Games were well attended, with most of our provinces managing to field a team. The level of competition was very high.
“There were a few events where we had small numbers, but overall it was a good and competitive turnout.”
Harare were crowned overall champions after collecting 15 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals.
Athletics contributed 26 of their 40 medals, with the capital winning 12 gold, nine silver and five bronze.
Harare swept the boys’, girls’ and overall athletics titles, dislodging defending champions Matabeleland South.
Lisimati said the capital’s dominance came as no surprise because it had more athletes and clubs than the other provinces.
“Harare Province did very well to dislodge Matabeleland South in athletics, and we want to congratulate them on a job well done,” he said.
“We are not shocked at all, as Harare currently has the numbers in terms of size and clubs, so they were bound to dominate.
“We urge the other provinces to follow suit and establish as many clubs as possible, targeting school-leavers rather than just educational institutions.”
