adminSimba Dube Sports Reporter
A 10-member Zimbabwean athletics team accompanied by two officials jets out of the country today for Cali, Colombia, where they will take part in the International Association of Athletics Federations World Youth Championship. The championships, which are meant for Under-17 athletes, will run from Wednesday to Sunday next week with 1 424 athletes from 156 countries expected to participate.
Kenya is the only African nation with the largest team of 25 athletes.
For the past two weeks members of Team Zimbabwe have been holding separate training sessions under the watchful eyes of different coaches from the country’s 10 provinces.
Enock Nhubu, an IAAF-certified coach, will lead the team which will represent the country in both female and male categories.
Seasoned athlete Enlitha Ncube, who was part of the team in the previous edition of the championships, will carry the nation’s hopes alongside South Africa-based Shingirayi Hlanguyo who staged a splendid performance at the AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games that were hosted by Bulawayo last December.
Enock Nhoro, the vice-president of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe said the main target was to have at least two athletes making it to the finals more as they were at a developmental stage.
“Winning medals is not our main concern for now, we will be satisfied if two of our athletes make it to the finals,” he said.
“We are still developing with the number of athletes from this country increasing year by year and this is a good start for the sport,” said Nhoro.
However, the NAAZ first vice-president cited “financial constraints” as a major setback which was hindering the development of the sport in the country.
The competitions used as selective events include the Confederations of Schools Sports Association of Southern Africa which were held in Lesotho, the African Youth Championships in Mauritius last April, and the AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games, hosted by Bulawayo last December.
Team Zimbabwe
Enlitha Ncube, Hlanguyo Shingirai, Leon Tafirenyika,Tinotenda Matiyenga, Abraham Mapiravana, Godwin Moyo, Vimbayi Maisvoreva, Nomatter Kafudzarura, Lovejoy Mapfumo, Chenge Mapaya.
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