adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have set up a Coaches’ Commission to deal with developmental issues in an effort to improve the sport. The commission was set up during the first coaches congress held over the weekend in Redcliff and will be led by Phakamile Lisimati as the chairperson.
Njere Shumba comes in as the vice-chairperson and Precious Tarakino is the secretary-general.
Stanley Zangure is the treasurer and each province provided its provincial coach into the commission as committee members.
NAAZ president, Tendai Tagara, said the commission will be responsible for the development of athletes and coaches.
“What we are saying is that coaching is the backbone of sport so we need to create space for the coaching department.
“We have been trying all these years to hold this congress but people, including me, have a tendency of selfishness but on the 5th of October in Redcliff we had our first coaches’ congress for athletics.
“The Commission has three objectives which are to develop the coaches, athletes and the federation by providing the technical information on development and performance of athletes.
“They will be handling issues of nurturing, development and high performance.
“All over the world almost every association has a coaches’ commission, there is the Africa Coaches’ Association and the World Coaches’ Association,” said Tagara.
Tagara said the move will contribute to the development of athletics.
“On Saturday we had three papers presented with Benson Chauke presenting on how he developed Cuthbert Nyasango while Lisimati presented on what is high performance and Tarakino presented on women athletes’ performance and social issues.
“For Rio de Janeiro (2016 Olympic Games) if the athletes fail the coaches would have failed because it is their responsibility and we have created a platform for them to see how the athletes can reach Rio de Janeiro,” said Tagara.
Online Reporter