malvernmugadzikwa
Sports Editor
IT keeps getting better for veteran administrator and former coach Tendayi Tagara (pictured left) , who is the current National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) president, after World Athletics retained the Zimbabwean on their influential Development Commission.
He is the only African who is a full member of the commission, which was reconfigured last week.
The selection process for commissioners was characterised by a series of rigorous interviews during an eight-month period.
During the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August, Tagara was commended by World Athletics for the work Zimbabwe is doing in identifying and nurturing athletes despite limited resources.
He also served on the previous commission, whose term ended this year.
With the latest major vote of confidence from World Athletics, Tagara, who was appointed from a pool of 150 candidates, has now cemented his position as a globally recognised coach and administrator.
“Hard work and perseverance took me to this level,” said Tagara, who has been trying to push for a return of the once-popular Chamber of Mines competitions.
“To be the only person from the continent of Africa on the commission is a huge honour.
“I will also be joined by Beatrice (Ayikoru) from Uganda, who comes into the commission as an ex-officio member as she is a council member.
“This is recognition of Zimbabwe’s contribution in development programmes, especially coaching and officials.
“We are the only country in Africa that has incorporated the kids’ athletics programme into our curriculum and syllabus for primary schools.”
NAAZ have a tradition of scouting for athletes at junior level, including at inter-schools and inter-provincial competitions.
“We believe that athletics is the backbone of any sport in the world, hence it is critical to dominate as a sports science in physical education,” he said.
“All sports codes borrow their sciences from athletics.
“Now, after this fresh appointment, I hope to do my best in my next term of office.”
World Athletics has three executive commissions — the Competition Commission, Development Commission and Governance Commission — whose mandate is to advise and provide expertise to the World Athletics Council.
In particular, the Development Commission, in which Tagara has been appointed, “exists to support the growth, development and administration of athletics at all levels of the sport aligned to the World Plan for Athletics 2022-2030”.
World Athletics vice president Geoff Gardner chairs the commission, which also has Uganda Athletics Federation general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru in its ranks. The tenure of the newly appointed commissioners will run from 2023 to 2027.
Online Reporter