Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
RECUPERATING ace Zimbabwe sprinter Methembe Tshuma has welcomed the new dates for the African Games.
Initially set for January in Egypt, the African Union Sports Council and the hosts agreed to have the Games in August to September.
The new dates of August 27 to September 10, Tshuma believes he could be back on the track.
Tshuma broke his right femur on May 16 in Accra, Ghana while taking part in the semi-finals of the 200m at the Africa Senior Track and Field Championships.
He is now able to walk without the aid of crutches but believes in about six months’ time, he could be able to start jogging on soft surfaces with June and July the probable months of his return to competition.
“I will not rush my return, I will take it one step at a time. So far so good am happy with the strides I have been making towards recovering and the support I have received from the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ).
“It is good the Games are in August and September, hopefully I will have recovered after about six months, I start training in November. Those that want to go to African Games will have run qualifying times, my recovery is okay, its going smoothly,” said Tshuma.
He praised NAAZ for supporting him through his ordeal and asked other athletes to be given similar support.
“It is them who have been supporting me up to this stage, they have been assisting me with a lot of things including physiotherapy and pills,” said Tshuma in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
He assured the nation that he would not rush to return to the track.
“I am not under any pressure at all to return early, my target is 2028,” said Tshuma.
The Olympics will return to Los Angeles after the 1984 Games dominated by American sprint and long jump legend Carl Lewis and deca athlete Daley Thompson.
Tshuma has a personal best of 10.22 seconds in the 100m and 20.26 in the 200m and managed to reach the semi-finals of the African Senior Championships in Ghana last May.
