Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the EcoCash National Sprint Gala draws closer, Zimbabwe Swimming are confident of an exciting event with an increased number of participants entering the event to take place this month in Bulawayo.
The inter-club gala is held at the beginning of the season to identify talent.
Over 400 swimmers from 23 clubs are expected to converge at Bulawayo City Pool on October 17 and 18.
Zimbabwe Swimming chairperson Zanele Nkomazana said this year’s event will be supported by EcoCash Zimbabwe.
The development has helped increase the number of swimmers expected to participate.
“We have gotten into a strategic partnership with EcoCash Zimbabwe on various projects.
“This is our second project, and we have given them the naming rights of the competition because of their financial support.
“Basically, the expenses of running a competition in Bulawayo — they are funding that.
“We have given them projects for this season, including the two camps that we want to host with international coaches.
“They also supported the team that participated at the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships last month,” said Nkomazana.
The Zimbabwe Swimming chairperson said the sponsorship will go a long way in complementing their efforts, considering they self-fund their activities with parents catering for most of the expenses including travelling and accommodation for different tours.
“We are now going out, having these strategic relationships with the corporate world so that we can subsidise our members from paying so much money. And thereby taking the sport to the people.
“We want everyone to have access to the sport . . . So, this is the excitement we have that EcoCash is helping us to swim.
“I think from 200, we have doubled the number of the swimmers that traditionally participate in the competition. It’s amazing.
“By yesterday (Tuesday) we had 428 swimmers, that’s when they closed entries and 23 clubs,” said Nkomazana.
Apart from the upcoming gala, they are hoping to hold camps where they will come up with a long list for next year’s African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Mozambique.
And they will be engaging the Sports and Recreation on the plan for the Region 5 Games.
They are also targeting the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar next year, and they have a 40-member squad they would want to go into camp as well.
“So those are the biggest projects that we have for EcoCash, and then obviously support throughout the season.
“When we come back from the National Sprint Gala, we are selecting a long list for the AUSC Region 5 Games, and we will liaise with Team Zimbabwe Management, or the Sport and Recreation Commission, to say we are starting preparation now, and then we request that they support us,” added Nkomazana.
The gala is an opportunity to measure swimmers as the season begins.
Most of the activities at the moment have been at provincial level.
“It’s open to anyone who has paid membership fees.
“Then from there we see who the newcomer is, who is faster, and we are in preparation for the provincial championships in November and December.
“This gala is mainly for us to see who has improved, who is new in the system, and where talent is at the moment.
“Coincidentally, Bulawayo has the best facility in the country, so we are having this gala this year in the best swimming pool we have in the country.
“We have new clubs as well. We have a new club from Hwange, and we have a new club from the Midlands.”
Harare’s Spartans are the defending champions.
