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Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
SEASONED sports administrator Robert Mutsauki yesterday said he was honoured ahead of the last leg of the Takawira Triangular series, as the final race to be held at the University of Zimbabwe tomorrow was named after him.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe, with support from Baldmin Holdings, yesterday said the stage was set for this last part of the Takawira Triangular series.
The race was named after Mutsauki, who is a former president of the local athletics mother body as well as ex-technical director of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
After successfully hosting the first leg of the Triangular series, dubbed the Artwell Mandaza Triangular series – in honour of the one of the greatest sprinters to emerge from the country – in Mashonaland Central, they went on to do the Costar Takawira edition in Bulawayo last week.
Speaking at the official launch yesterday, Mutsauki said he was excited for such a recognition and was hopeful that the event will stand the test of time.
“I am very grateful for such a recognition and I am hopeful such platforms will help promote young athletes. I think athletics has managed to put the country on the map and I believe we have a lot of talented athletes who can do well.
“For having a national event named after you is a great honour and I am glad there are people who appreciate what I did for athletics.
“It is so good to recognise people while they are still alive, unlike having to do that posthumously. Athletics has helped me build a reputation and has given me this platform,” said Mutsauki.
NAAZ president Tendai Tagara was also delighted with the gesture by Baldmin Holdings and they will use the 10 000km race for the World Championships qualifiers.
“As an association we are very grateful for the support by our sponsor and we are going to give them value for their kindness. We have managed to hold the first two editions and we are now looking forward to the final one, the Robert Mutsauki Race.
“I am glad that we have managed to honour a man who is my mentor and has vast experience in sports management. The race is going to have 18 disciplines from track and fields. There will be a floating trophy and medals for the future race,” added Tagara.
Baldmin Holdings Projects manager and CSR implementer Shingi Sibanda said they were looking forward to the third edition of the triangular series and were happy with how NAAZ have done so far.
“We are grateful that we are going to have the last race on Saturday and we give credit to NAAZ who have always been on the ground. The races are going on well and they have shown transparency in all the activities we held.
“We are glad that we are giving opportunities to young athletes with a possibility of taking some to the United States on scholarship,” said Sibanda.
The man behind the triangular series idea, Takawira, is a former runner, who is passionate about the sport and is now giving back to the community.
Baldmin Holdings, a firm with major interests in mining and medical supplies, have of late managed to send five students to the United States on a full academic and sports scholarship at El Paso in Texas.
Among the beneficiaries is Kelvin Chiku who left on August 3, 2021 and is now in Texas. The long distance runner joined Bradley Makuvi, who dominated in Texas and National College events last year before joining LSU this year.
Online Reporter