adminSports Correspondent
BULAWAYO Athletes Development Project (BADP) founder Vusa Mlilo is confident that provincial sport is headed in the right direction. Mlilo was involved in athletics throughout last year where he worked closely with talent from primary and secondary schools in a bid to make athletics an all-year round activity. Tomorrow, his BADP is partnering with Africa Children’s Hope Foundation, which is eager to see new talent unearthed, exposed and developed to Olympic material.
Africa Children’s Hope is the brainchild of former national sprinter Arnold Payne, who wants to give raw talent exposure and possibly scholarship opportunities locally and abroad.
Mlilo said he was hopeful that engaging role models like Payne would in the long run pay dividends for the sport.
Tomorrow they will stage 5KM and 10KM road races in Emakhandeni to complement the track and field initiative that has been going on.
“We will have primary school pupils running 5KM and the seniors, that is both males and females over 18 years running 10KM. It’s more like fun race running, but there will be token prizes for the athletes’ sweat and toil,” said Milo.
He said they had engaged all relevant stakeholders, who include police and ambulance services, to ensure a smooth race.
“We all look forward to a good morning of road running. We expect both junior and senior athletes to come forward and compete as part of their keep fit strategy and preparations for forthcoming races in the country and outside,” said Mlilo.
There are over seven races that are lined up in Southern Africa which include the Soweto Marathon.
Some of them will be used as qualifying events for the 2016 Comrades Marathon and the Olympics.
Zimbabweans have over the years made their mark on the South African road running scene.
Mlilo said the wheelchair category would not be included in the inaugural race.
Isaac Mpofu and Millen Matende could be some of the favourites in the seniors’ category.
Payne and a few other former athletes have come together to help revive athletics in Bulawayo and are eager to sponsor a number of road races and track and field competitions next year.
Payne said he would release the identity of his partners in the drive to resuscitate athletics at the right time.
Online Reporter