Veteran athletics coach on Olympians

LEGENDARY athletics sprint coach Kenny Nyape has advised athletes participating in the US Collegiate scene to focus on managing their fitness levels and staying sharp ahead of the Senior African Athletics Championships.

Nyape made a name for himself as a sprints coach in Bulawayo before joining the Colliery in 2007, and in the same year made Gabriel Chikomo good enough to run one of the legs of the 4x400m team’s bronze effort in the Algiers African Games.

He believes that overloading oneself is counterproductive, and athletes need to recover from the effects of the collegiate games before the Championships.

Among the athletes he has worked with are Caroline Ncube, Juma Phiri, Malvern Bonde, Nelton Ndebele, Garnett Dube, Elvis Muzamo, and Lloyd Makwati.

But the most famous remains Lewis Banda, who holds the 400m national record of 44,58 seconds set in 2004.

Nyape has confidence in the athletes and is hopeful they can recover and excel for the Senior African Championships, which will serve as a test for their fitness levels.

Nyape said it is key for the athletes to manage their fitness levels and stay sharp to produce the right effect when the gunpowder explodes in Paris, France, next month.

Tapiwanashe Makarawu has already qualified for the games in Paris after clocking 19,93 seconds in the 200m.

He has to shed off 0,14 seconds in the 100m to qualify for that category.

Makanakaishe Charamba has also qualified for the Olympics in the 200m with a time of 19,93 seconds, alongside Isaac Mpofu and Reutendo Nyahora in the marathon.

“I urge them not to overload themselves, but try to recover from the effects of the collegiate games because three weeks is not a lot of time,” said Nyape from his Hwange base.

It was a long season that started late last year with the indoor circuit in which Makarawu was the second best with his 20,29 seconds putting him among the world’s leading performers for this year.

“They should be able to recover and reach peak form again in time for the senior continental championships.”

Nyape is confident that the association and athletes have worked a roadmap towards the Olympics.

“With the Olympics around the corner, I want to believe that those that have already qualified have a roadmap for the games. They can use the African championships to test if they are still on course,” said the respected coach.

The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) will finalise its team for the Senior African Championships set for Doula, Cameroon, from June 20-26 after the Inter-Provincial Championships in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Naaz boss Tendai Tagara confirmed last week that the team will be selected this weekend.

The Senior African Championships are the last event before the Olympic Games qualifying window closes on June 30.

Fireworks are expected in Bulawayo with young athletes Denzel Ngavi, Alpha Mpofu, Mzi Ncube and Andrew Ndlovu facing an acid test.

Wellington Varevi is expected to dominate both the 5 000m and 10 000m track distances as he also vies for the Cameroon trip.