Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
AFTER years anchored at the bottom, Bulawayo finally showed its competitive edge at the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) Track and Field Championships, prompting Sobukhazi High School headmaster Cain Ncube to back the province’s growing potential as they climbed to seventh place.
There were smiles all over the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province athletes, coaches and accompanying headmasters when results were announced at the end of the two day event, which drew participants from across the country. While pleased with seventh place, Ncube expressed disappointment with the team’s performance on the second day, which saw Bulawayo drop from fourth to seventh on the medals table.
“This time I thought we had got it right after a very promising start in which we got eight gold medals, two more than last year’s tally, the second day was too bad to recall.
“We could not add more gold to our medal tally. The kids fought very well, they ran, jumped and threw for the Bulawayo badge in an amazing manner and could have done better.
“We have shown that we can compete with other provinces. We have been reviewing our operations over the years and we have to a conclusion that we need more events to get athletes in tune and active for the better part of the year,” said Ncube.
A key member of the technical team lost his father on the morning of the second day.
“Perhaps the athletes were affected by the bereavement of one of the coaches who lost his father,” said Ncube.
After disastrous outings in Bindura, Marondera and Victoria Falls, the province resolved to introduce more competitions to ensure athletes stayed active throughout the year. Ncube said that in many instances, their athletes were “track rusty” and faded once fitter competitors turned up the pace.
“We resolved to have the kids run all-year round with a number of competitions so that they stay fit. It appears to have worked and I am proud of the improvement which I attribute to hard work and more activity we introduced,” said Ncube.
Usually, schools run inter house, inter cluster and inter district meets before the national championships.
“This is not enough. Other provinces would have had several competitions and their athletes will be in top form while ours rely on natural talent and coaching which does not have much impact on fitness. I can assure our competitors and sponsors, we are good work in progress,” said Ncube.
Bulawayo Province were sponsored by Bakers Inn and athletes who returned with medals will be rewarded with deliveries of the sponsor’s products for up to three months at home.
Athletes now shift focus to the inter provincial championships set for Harare on April 25–26, along with several club events scheduled throughout the year across Zimbabwe.
Brilliant performances by athletes on the global stage — particularly sprinters — have given local athletics renewed momentum.
Meanwhile, Ncube has congratulated athletes who ran and set new records in Botswana at the weekend. Among them were several former NASH Bulawayo Metropolitan Province representatives.
“Congratulations to the national association. I am happy to say athletes like Methembe Tshuma, Denis Hove, Rutendo Vushe and Thandazani Ndlovu were running for us in recent years.
“We are on track and more athletes are coming onto the scene through a collaborative effort between schools, clubs, teachers and coaches. Exciting times lie ahead,” said Ncube.
Zimbabwe set new national records in the mixed 4x100m and the 4x400m event in Botswana.
