Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL athletics coach Lisimati Phakamile says Zimbabwe is moving past the disappointment of the World Relays disqualification, choosing instead to focus on key lessons and long-term progress.
The men’s 4x400m relay team represented Zimbabwe at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, a high-stakes meet that also served as a qualifier for the 2025 World Championships set for Tokyo in September.
Hopes were high, but the team’s campaign ended in heartbreak after they were disqualified in Round Two of the qualifying heats on Sunday for a line infringement during a baton exchange.
Despite the setback, Phakamile, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) director of coaching, talent identification, and development, remains upbeat.
“First of all, I want to commend the boys for the work they put in, the commitment, the training, and the effort in competition,” he said.
“It was their first time competing at that level. The experience and exposure they gained is positive.
They learnt a lot about what it takes in terms of dedication and preparation for big competitions.”
Phakamile is particularly encouraged by the fact that most of the current national athletes, including those who competed in China, are locally based and developed, a sign, he says, that local systems are producing elite-level talent.
But he believes the next step must be about aiming higher.
“As coaches, we can’t focus solely on qualifying anymore. The goal now is to reach finals, to win medals. We’re not looking back, we’re moving forward.
“It’s encouraging that we continue to produce qualifying athletes locally, with minimal resources. If we had even a little more support, the level of performance and results would definitely improve.
“Now it’s back to the drawing board. We’ll sit down with our coaching team, review everything, and look at what we need to adjust to keep progressing.”
With World Championships qualification still open until August, relay team members Gerren Muwishi, Leeford Zuze, Aldrin Tafa and Dennis Hove are now shifting their attention to individual events in a bid to qualify on their own merit.
Muwishi said the group remains positive.
“It was disappointing, but we left everything on the track. It was a tough two days, but we’ve taken away a lot of lessons,” he said.
“Qualification is still ongoing. We’re focusing on individual events, and there’s still a chance to qualify as a team too, the two fastest nations not already qualified will still make it, so we’re staying ready.”
While most relay slots for the Tokyo World Championships have been filled, two spots remain open in each of the relay events, men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, as well as the mixed 4x400m, based on the top global lists compiled during the qualification window, which runs from February 25, 2024, to August 24, 2025.
