NAAZ push for coaches’ development

Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are next month scheduled to run an International Level Two sprints and hurdles coaching course in Bulawayo in a move expected to help in the development of elite athletes.

The course is scheduled for December 2 to 8.

NAAZ president, Tendayi Tagara, said the course focuses on the training of elite athletes.

“This is an elite course specialising in sprints and hurdles. It focuses on preparing a programme for an elite athlete – Under-18, Under-20 and seniors.

“Majority of our coaches are dealing with juniors, that’s why we are happy with our appointed director. He is well experienced at elite level,” said Tagara.

World Athletics appointed Muzi Bongani Mabuza as course director.

The national association has been working on capacity building for their coaches in a move that is expected to improve the numbers and performance at continental and international level.

NAAZ director of coaching, talent identification and development, Lisimati Phakamile, said with the coaching trends constantly improving, they need to up their game.

“We are preparing to run an International Level Two sprints and hurdles coaching course where we seek to advance our coaches to become specialist coaches. We know and we have been observing that the trends in coaching have gone very high.

“If we look at the qualification standards that have been set by World Athletics, they require specific and specialist training to athletes so that they can achieve those standards. Without special and specific training, we cannot achieve that as a country.

“So this is the importance and the need for us as a country to have that specialist. We are bringing in a specialist coach from outside the country to come and assist with the training in that regard,” said Phakamile.

The NAAZ director of coaching, talent identification and development conceded the country is lagging behind in sprints, which is a major concern.

However, he noted it is a process as they are looking at development in all areas including jumps and middle and long-distance as well.

“Our main focus and aim is to have our coaches here getting equipped and scientifically trained to develop and train athletes to the standard that the World Athletics is requiring. If we look at 100m, we need at least someone to run 9.99s or 10.00s to qualify of which in our country the last person who did that speed was the senior Ngoni Makusha a few years back.

“There is a need for us as Zimbabwe, as department of coaching to look into that and make sure that we equip our coaches with that kind of training and that kind of scientific development to train them and help them achieve those standards.

“It’s a process. We will also need to have coaches being trained in jumps and, we will need them to be trained in middle and long-distance training. But for now we are focusing on sprints and hurdles, and we really hope that this course is going be very important and is going to be very critical for them to take it up and have them develop their coaching skills,” said Phakamile.

Fifteen coaches are expected to attend. Only those that successfully completed and passed the International Level One course and invited by World Athletics will attend the course.

NAAZ are looking at improving their participation at next year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.