Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOLLOWING a fruitful year with their athletes competing in various major competitions, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have now primed themselves to reward those who stood out.
NAAZ are pencilled in to hold the 2025 Excellence Awards in Bindura.
The awards seek to recognise and reward outstanding performers, from athletes — senior, junior and youth — to coaches, administrators and technical officials.
There will also be awards for the provinces who excelled in athlete development, participation, and performance.
NAAZ will also honour corporate partners and sponsors — organisations and brands that have supported the national association’s programmes, national events and athlete development initiatives throughout the year, through sponsorship, technical assistance, or in-kind contributions.
The awards will be held at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) soon after the National Cross-Country Championships, scheduled for the same institution.
NAAZ president Tendayi Tagara revealed that they are finalising preparations for the staging of the awards event, with different committees short-listing nominees for the various categories. The association had to cancel last year’s awards due to lack of resources.
“The short-listing of the athletes has already been done. Very soon the head of the selection committee will announce them.
“The short-list for the technical officials is in place. We are also honouring our sponsors that were outstanding for 2025 at the awards and our coaches, to say thank you for what they did for us in 2025,” said Tagara.
The previous awards, which was the 2023 edition, were held in Harare last year in January.
Tagara said they have deliberately moved the awards to Bindura as part of their decentralisation policy.
“We are doing this because the decentralisation policy to make sure that other provinces have the opportunity to host national events.
“That is why we are also making sure that our national awards are also in Bindura, to give the opportunity to those other provinces that they can also host these big events, and it’s not necessarily for the big cities.
“That is why we decided that the awards and the cross-country take place on the same day in Bindura.
“It’s a deliberate move and we are hoping next year another province will host the national cross-country.”
With BUSE housing the National Sports Academy, Tagara added that they also want to appreciate the university’s efforts in contributing to sport development.
Top sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and David Nyamufarira are among some of the athletes who were nurtured by the BUSE academy before moving to the United States on scholarships.
Makarawu had one of his best seasons this year, reaching the 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan two months ago.
Makanakaishe Charamba also left a mark on the track, pulling through to the semi-finals at the global meet.
Both athletes turned professional this year and are among the favourites for the upcoming awards.
Isaac Mpofu, who was crowned Athlete of the Year for the 2023 awards held last year in January, is also a contender following his top 10 finish at the World Championships.
For the senior women, Vimbayi Maisvorewa and Ashley Miller are likely to be the main contenders.
For the juniors and youth, the likes of Takunda Mutizwa and Tatenda Chindowa, who registered podium performances at the Confederation of African Athletics Under-18/Under-20 Championships are some of the athletes to look out for.
