NAAZ step up preps

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe will tomorrow hold a track and field event at White City Stadium in Bulawayo as they step up their preparations for the African Junior Championships set for next month in Ethiopia. The competition is expected to feature junior athletes from all provinces and it will be used to prepare the team that will represent Zimbabwe in Ethiopia.

Naaz president Tendai Tagara said they have lined up a number of competitions to ensure that the athletes will not just participate at the continental championships but compete for medals.

“What we are doing is we are preparing the team for the African Junior Championships to be held from March 5 to 8 in Ethiopia. The team leaves on March 2.

“This team cannot compete if they are not ready, we need them to prepare. We have four competitions they have to compete in. Last week we were in Harare and this week we will be in Bulawayo. On February 15 we will be back in Harare before going back to Bulawayo for the final competition on February 21. We are hoping to send six athletes and we want to put them in a small camp before they leave. For preliminary entries we have already entered 12 athletes and if any of them meet the time they will join the six that have already qualified,” said Tagara.

Tagara said they have also engaged schools and parents to assist in raising money for the airfares of the athletes.

“We are working with parents and schools to raise money for the airfares and as the national association we will also chip in. So far three out of the six athletes have already acquired air tickets.

“We have to run around because we have the Seniors World Championships coming in August and we cannot ask for assistance from the government at the moments because we have said let’s ask for assistance at the highest level when we need more funds,” said Tagara.