Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube in ACCRA, Ghana
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendayi Tagara, is a man on cloud nine after seeing Dennis Hove and Leeford Zuze claim silver and bronze at the Africa Senior Championships at the University of Ghana Stadium here on Thursday night.
The achievement was done by local athletes, a gamble that has paid dividends with a number of triumphs in the last two months by the 400m runners.
“I am happy with the performance of the team in Ghana. The project is working, homegrown solution is working for the federation.
“Remember that’s what we said about six years ago that we must focus on a homegrown solutions after finding out so many athletes who are going overseas are not making it,” said Tagara.
Many fail to come because of college academic commitments or sporting engagements.
At times with college sport seasons ending in June and major competitions in September, athletes will be in off-season literally with no funding to finance competitions on the international circuits.
He said relations with neighbouring countries was also key to the positive spin of results.
“It’s now paying off, our relationship with Botswana, South Africa and Zambia is now paying off.
“That’s the linkage that we are creating,” said Tagara whose NAAZ has trained most of Botswana’s high-profile coaches.
“We have trained enough coaches and I have been challenging my coaches that you are coming from the same pot as Botswana coaches.
“All coaches from Botswana were trained in Bulawayo so you must rise to the occasion. I have challenged the coaches and they have risen to the occasion.
“Look at these coaches and athletes they are trained home by local coaches that’s the philosophy we have,” said the man under whom athletics has had a positive kick in recent years.
The team, a group of amateurs mainly based at home, running as a passion, is a disciplined lot.
“I am happy again with the behaviour of our team as well. The role of the federation is to create a conducive environment for athletes to perform and when they perform the world of money, sponsors and agents is open.
“Look at what Makarawu (Tapiwanashe) and Charamba (Makanakaishe) they have got good sponsorship. Look at our local boys the moment they run a 44 in the next two weeks the boys will be having agents and sponsors.
“The money is open. I told coach Phakamile Lisimati you are going to Botswana for the relays. The moment they got onto the relay, I told the coach that this is the money which the athletes are looking for.
“Here it is the same platform with athletes from around the world, if they want money that is where the money is. The federation has created a conducive environment for them to perform and I am happy they are responding to what we are doing.
“We are limited in terms of facilities, but we are happy with what the Government is doing,” added Tagara.
The NAAZ boss praised the work on the National Sports Stadium.
“We are happy that very soon the National Sports Stadium will be open so many kids will be exposed to the B Arena. White City Stadium, NUST University and University of Zimbabwe those facilities will be exposing our athletes,” said Tagara.
What lies ahead for the athletes after Ghana?
Is the season over?
These have always been the ultimate championship bringing curtains down on the continent’s national federations’ seasons.
“Some of our athletes will be flying to Europe until end of July, we are almost complete with arrangements. We also have athletes, who will compete in South Africa.
“The Youth Games are also coming up in August that’s another platform.”
Coach Phakamile Lisimati described the team’s success as good indicators for next year’s major events, which include the World Championships in Beijing, China and African Games in Egypt.
“These are very good signs and indicators that we are going to be there in the African Games.
“We are the team to watch, we are the boys to take care of when we get to the 400m event at the Beijing World Championships, we are working on that we are cooking something as a nation.
“We assure that we will be again on the final list of teams that will make up the final, we are going to make it to the World Championships in Beijing.
“We are hoping to get a medal this time around,” said Lisimati.
