adminThey say big things often have small beginnings and for a group of local young athletes that dream starts today.
Getting to Algeria for the Africa Youth Games slated for July is big, but qualifying to the Summer Youth Olympic Games set for Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October, is the ultimate goal. National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe director of youth Briad Nhubu did not mince his words as he shis 2018 vision.
“We have some prospective athletes we expect to do well at the Africa Youth Games in Algeria and from there the main goal will be the Youth Olympics in Argentina,” Nhubu said. When asked who are some of the athletes to look out for especially today in a NAAZ season opener event at the National Sports Stadium Nhubu said: “We do have the likes of Dorothy Kamhungura; she has been in our set-up since 2015 and scooped a gold medal in the triple jump at the Region V Games as a 15-year-old in an Under-20s competition.
“There is also a middle distance runner from Chikomba District, Privilege Chikara, Simba Makuta from St George’s who is an exciting sprinter and was also part of the mixed 4×100 relay team that competed at the World Championships in Kenya last year.
“Also based in South Africa is another sprinter, Donovan Mutariswa, who was part of the 4×100 relay winning team last time in Algeria.”
Making it to Argentina will be massive considering that Africa has been given limited slots in athletics.
“In 2017 we had three slots for girls in athletics and four slots for boys, so it means our athletes will be gunning for those slots against competitors from Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Egypt amongst other nations who are known to produce very good athletes.
“We haven’t been informed how many slots will be available this time around,” he said. “But where there is a will there is a way. We are doing our best to encourage them to work hard and keep believing,’’, said Nhubu.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter