Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Swimming chairperson Zanele Nkomazana says they are looking beyond medals as they take part at the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships in Manzini, Eswatini.
The regional competition that came to life yesterday is running until Sunday with Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe competing.
Zimbabwe got their participation on a promising note, picking some medals yesterday.
“This year’s squad really for Zimbabwe is more of a developmental squad. A pure development squad with one or two Youth Olympic Games top swimmers that are going for camp after the competition.
“So yes, we expect medals, we expect improvement, but like I am saying it’s purely developmental.
“Going forward we would want to send a stronger team, next year to Botswana and hopefully we will win Botswana. We are going through a phase where we want to start from the bottom, going up and see how we improve going forward.
“So, we have had a lot of setbacks as an association, but I think this is the time to overcome,” said Nkomazana.
In some of the results from yesterday, Jude Moss won a gold medal in 100m backstroke 11 to 12-year-old boys in 1minute 08.78seconds, setting a new meet record and national record.
Moss went on to claim a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke in the same age group in 37.30seconds, and Sibusiso Fayayo settled for a silver medal in the same event for the 13 to 14-year-old boys with a time of 32.72seconds.
The boys 14-and-Under medley relay team consisting of Moss, John Goddard, Sibusiso Fayayo and Cameroon Wade clinched a bronze medal. Daniella Viki got bronze in 800m freestyle in the Girls 14-and-Under, posting a personal best of 10:35.65 and Johnsen picked another bronze in the 15-and-Over women for the same event, also posting a personal best of 9:42.03.
Johnsen also picked a bronze in the 100m backstroke in 1 minute 08.35 seconds in the 15-16-year-old girls age group, and Eliecia Chivandire weighed in with another bronze in the 13-14-year-old girls, in 1minute 09.88seconds. Some of the swimmers that have been earmarked for the Youth Olympic Games in 2026, and are part of the team in Eswatini, include Alexis Johnsen, Teak Watson, Ruvarashe Choto, and Liam Chicksen.
But before the YOG to be held in Dakar, Senegal next year, there is also the African Youth Games scheduled for December in Angola to look forward to.
They will conclude the season with South African tours next year.
“So next year we should send the strongest team, funds permitting, ours are self-funded tours.
“And the focus really since Olympics is in 2028, is to give each and every child a chance to compete. This is why we went down to the development stage and give them that experience they need and let them go and see how things are done elsewhere.
“And also, just to wear that Zimbabwe cap for other swimmers that may not have an opportunity to do so.
“So, as much as we expect what we expect, we are happy that our youngsters got an opportunity to swim,” said Nkomazana.
The team will be hoping for more positive outcomes as competition continues.
Zim Africa Aquatics Zone IV Team:
Females: Ruth Nhimura, Michelle Nkolomi, Shae Green, Marang Ndlovu, Monalisa Sibanda, Tamiranashe Maboreke, Daniella Viki, Tassia Kaschula, Farai Matabeya Eliecia Chivandire, Alexis Johnsen, Imlah Nyamhunga, Amelie Mtongwiza, Ruvarashe Choto, Adriana Bhana, Loyiso Mahobele.
Males: Vincent Nyamapfene, Jude Moss, Nkonzo Mkwananzi, Wade Cameroon, Gabriel Munengwa, Sibusiso Fayayo, John Goddard, Tendekayi Maboreke, Connor Grist, Shingai Shumba, Teak Watson, Adrian Chidzvete, Liam Chicksen, Ashley Berejena.
Head Coach: Masi Takaedza
Coach: Leigh Anne Young
Senior Manager: Sothini Ngwenya
Manager: Mike Roper.
