Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) administrator Manuel Mpofu believes with enough investment in long-distance running, the country could do well in that discipline.
“In long-distance we are very good; we just need to improve and support that area of athletics. We are good in sprints also and need to support the area again.
“If we are to specialise I would say long-distance running is the way to go. We need to identify the talent and nurture it. The key thing is to put resources together to motivate the identified talent and expose the athletes to a competitive environment. We also need life skills education,” said Mpofu.
His sentiments were echoed by Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) chairperson Watson Madanyika, who said resources were needed to strengthen long-distance running to compete effectively.
“We need to introduce training camps whereby our selected top athletes come together and train under our top coaches and former athletes. We appeal to corporates to stage more events so that our athletes remain in good shape.
Those academically gifted we second them to colleges to obtain qualifications for use after sport,” said Madanyika.
Online Reporter