Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, Zimpapers Sports Hub
WITH the World Athletics Championships over, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) says it is already moving to sharpen its athletes for even bigger stages.
The global meet ended in Tokyo on Sunday with Zimbabwe fielding its largest team in three decades. Eight athletes competed in marathon, track and field events. United States-based sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba ran in the 200m, Vimbayi Maisvorewa lined up in the 400m, Ashley Miller in the 400m hurdles, and Chengetayi Mapaya took part in the triple jump. Local marathoners Fortunate Chidzivo, Isaac Mpofu and Tendai Zimuto rounded off the team.
Makarawu made the men’s 200m final and finished seventh, Charamba reached the semi-final and Mpofu placed 10th in the marathon.
While there were no medals, Naaz president Tendai Tagara said the experience proved that Zimbabwe’s track and field programme is on the right path. He credited the growing number of qualifiers to partnerships with former athletes and educational institutions that create scholarship opportunities.
“The team was composed of eight athletes, the biggest contingent to the World Championships in 30 years,” Tagara said. “In the last 10 years we focused on juniors qualifying for the World Junior Championship.
“Qualifying there gives them a chance to be recognised by people who can offer scholarships overseas. We made a lot of effort to make sure many of them get scholarships from these programmes.”
He singled out Bindura University of Science Education for its role in developing talent. “Bindura University offered scholarships to athletes, and when opportunities to go overseas arose, they released them. We want to thank the vice chancellor for supporting these athletes. That is the spirit we are looking for as a federation,” he said.
Makarawu, a product of the National Sports Academy and Bindura University, is an example. Rising sprinter David Nyamufarira, now at New Mexico Junior College, is following a similar path.
Tagara also pointed to the now suspended National Youth Games as an important stepping stone in nurturing talent. He praised the technical team that handled preparations, noting that individual coaches such as Darryl Anderson (Makarawu) and Ken Harnden (Charamba) travelled with their athletes, while Benson Chauke managed the marathon runners.
Former sprinter Lewis Banda worked as physiotherapist, while Brian Dzingai continues to help coordinate the US-based athletes. Tagara said Gabriel Mvumvure is set to join the coaching team.
Looking ahead, he set clear targets. “Our focus now is to have a team in Botswana at the World Relays next year,” he said.
“We are pushing two alternatives. One is the USA-based athletes where the coach, management and athletes are in America. We want a 4x100m relay team in America that will run qualifying times for Botswana.
“We have put mechanisms in place and are happy with the relationship with Brian Dzingai, who is managing the process. We are also happy that Gabriel Mvumvure is coming on board and Lewis Banda will be the physio for the relay team.
“We want them to remain the management up to the 2028 Olympics. As a federation we value people who matter most in terms of the athletes’ welfare and performance,” Tagara said.
Zimbabwe’s longer term ambitions include the 2027 World Championships and the Los Angeles Olympic Games, and Tagara believes the current structures can produce results.
