Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER identifying 36 athletes expected to represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games, national junior athletics coach Briad Nhubu has urged young athletes to remain consistent and continue competing regularly to stay in peak condition.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has shifted focus from last weekend’s successful National Junior Championships to the July regional meet in Namibia, where athletics will once again form part of Team Zimbabwe.
From an initial pool of over 100 hopefuls, selectors led by Nhubu have settled on a final squad that includes athletes with continental experience — a factor the coach believes will be crucial in Namibia.
“The quality of athletes is quite reasonable,” said Nhubu.
“Particularly, considering that some of the athletes who have made it into the final team have previously represented Zimbabwe at the CAA (Confederation of African Athletics) Under-18 and Under-20 Championships, which we had in Zambia.
“We just bank on those ones because they have some experience — because it was the whole of Africa. The experience they had seems to have kept them going, because since 2023, the athletes are always featuring in the schools’ competitions and also NAAZ competitions.
“By featuring in all these championships, we think there is some kind of consistency in terms of performance.”
Nhubu was particularly encouraged by performances in Bulawayo during the recent junior championships, which were timed electronically.
“We were a bit excited that the athletes posted some good times because there was electronic timing,” he said.
“Most athletes posted good times in their events — those which were timed — especially the 400m boys. They did exceptionally well in terms of improving their personal best times.”
Athletics has long been a reliable medal contributor for Zimbabwe at the Region 5 Games, and the target remains to maintain or improve that record.
“We have hopes that quite a number of them will manage to make it to the podium,” said Nhubu.
“Of course, we know we will be racing against some strong countries like South Africa and Botswana, especially in the sprints. But we also have some boys and girls who are actually showing that they can make it to the podium.”
Field events have traditionally brought Zimbabwe the bulk of their medals at this level, and the selectors have kept that in mind.
