adminNkosilathi Sibanda
A WEEK’s preparation will not deter Team Zimbabwe from retaining the title at this year’s edition of the Confederation of Schools Sport Association of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Track and Field Championships.
The athletics meet will be in Gaborone, Botswana, from April 22-26.
The team, made up of Under-14 and Under-17 age groups, has been in camp at Northlea High School from last Sunday. It wraps up its training programme this morning, before departure for Gaborone tomorrow.
At the weekend training session, morale was high among the athletes and there was little to show that the team only converged for seven days. Team Zimbabwe’s squad appears ready for a medal haul in Botswana.
Athletes have been utilising the tartan track at the National University of Science and Technology. A total of 88 athletes have been under the watchful eye of National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe vice-president and coach Enias Nhoro.
Among the expert athletics coaches are Vusumuzi Mlilo, Phakamile Lisimati and Brian Nhubu.
Although there was an outcry in some quarters on the short preparatory time, coaches are confident that athletes will garner more medals than last year.
Last year, Team Zimbabwe had a three-week preparation for the competition hosted in Harare. The team took 61 medals -19 gold, 20 silver, and 22 bronze.
Namibia poses a threat to Zimbabwe’s prospects to the title. In the previous edition, the Namibians were runners-up, collecting 19 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals.
Lisimati told Chronicle Sport that athletes want to break records and are determined to give their best.
“We are positive and that is the mood in the camp. What is at stake is to retain the title and break records. The athletes adapted well within the short period at training. We are not disturbed at all because Team Zimbabwe has strength and advantage compared to other countries.
“Our team does not rely on one person. All departments are strong. The confidence we have now assures us of better results than last year.”
The veteran athletics coach said the impetus was now on the athletes who have a point to prove by retaining the regional title.
“The team will undergo light training on Monday. Besides working on the technical aspect, we as coaches have encouraged the athletes to carry the Zimbabwean flag high,” said Lisimati, after yesterday’s light exercise at Northlea.
The National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) is also impressed with the aptitude of the team.
Phillip Chikomwe, national head in charge of athletics said:
“We are raring to go. All the training sessions went smoothly. The team is strong and we are fielding athletes in all events.”
Team Zimbabwe’s squad has athletes from both rural and urban schools. The Under-14 category’s hopes are pinned on Mthabisi Dube and Ndumiso Ncube while the Under-17s have Justice Dodzo, Abiola Ncube, Antonetta Tembo, Yvonne Vanhuvaone and Tariro Nyamuka.
Zimbabwe school athletes will seek to outperform over 10 countries in the region including Namibia, Lesotho, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and the hosts Botswana. Island Cossasa countries like Comoros, Madagascar and the Seychelles are expected to take part as well.
Participants will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, the 4x100m and 4x200m relay events.
In the field competitions, athletes will fight for gold in high jump, long jump, triple jump, javelin and discus.
The Cossasa competitions are meant to empower youngsters and expose talent within school going children. The tournament also acts as a springboard for young athletes to advance their sporting careers in athletics.
Online Reporter