Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
A trip to Ghana may have come without a medal for Derrick Mathuthu, but it returned something even more valuable: a burning hunger to succeed.
The former Zezani High School athlete may not have competed in his favourite event, but he returned home with something just as valuable: belief, motivation and a clearer understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Mathuthu was part of the Zimbabwe national team that competed at the championships held at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra. He travelled as a reserve for the men’s 4x400m relay team, a role that often means waiting in the background in case of injuries or changes to the main line-up.
Although he did not get a chance to run in the relay itself, he was later given an opportunity in the 200m when it became clear that he would not feature in his preferred 400m event.
Despite the limited action on the track, the young athlete says the experience has had a deep impact on him.
“It’s been nice being out here with the team. I am grateful to the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe for the opportunity to come to this level of competition. It’s been an eye-opener for me, I have learnt quite some bit that I will use to improve going forward,” he said.
Mathuthu was part of a strong Zimbabwean squad that performed well on the continental stage. The country’s 4x400m relay team — made up of Gerren Muwishi, Dennis Hove, Leeford Zuze and Thandazani Ndhlovu — delivered a brilliant performance to win a gold medal.
Even though he did not take to the track in that event, Mathuthu said he felt proud to be part of such a successful team.
For him, being included in the squad at such a young stage in his career is already a major achievement. It also gives him an advantage — time. He believes age is on his side and that this experience has come at the right moment in his development.
For many athletes, being a reserve can be frustrating. There is always the hope of competing, but also the reality that the chance may never come. For Mathuthu, however, the experience was not wasted.
Instead, it opened his eyes to the demands of elite sport.
Being in Ghana allowed him to observe top athletes from across Africa, see how they prepare, and understand the level of discipline required to succeed.
“I have seen the big stage and now know the nation’s expectations. This is the time to go back home and work harder to be at a level that when called upon to do duty I will deliver,” he said.
The exposure has clearly ignited something within him. He now speaks with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, not just for himself, but also for those who look up to him back home.
“I must be an inspiration to people in my district, my former school Zezani and the whole country. It is possible to succeed and only discipline and hard work will see me get to good levels of proficiency in the sport.
“It won’t come easy, I will have to break a lot of sweat and improve on my personal best times in the 200 and 400m distances. I aim at running sub 21 seconds 200m and sub 46 seconds in the 400.”
Mathuthu’s ambitions reflect a growing confidence, shaped by seeing first-hand what is required to compete at the highest level. His targets are not small, running under 21 seconds in the 200m and under 46 seconds in the 400m would place him among top athletes in the sport.
But he understands that reaching such heights will require sacrifice, discipline and relentless effort.
Beyond his own journey, Mathuthu also pointed to a broader issue affecting athletes from Matabeleland South.
He believes the region is rich in talent, especially at school level, but many young athletes struggle to reach their full potential due to limited exposure.
According to him, the problem is not a lack of ability, but a lack of opportunities to compete at higher levels and gain experience.
This is something his trip to Ghana has helped him appreciate even more.
Back home, Zimbabwe’s athletics team received a warm welcome after returning from Ghana last Tuesday. Their performance at the championships was widely praised, with several athletes producing impressive times and securing podium finishes.
In addition to the gold medal in the 4x400m relay, Zimbabwe also claimed silver and bronze medals in the 400m event. The women’s team added another highlight with a second-place finish in the 100m hurdles.
It has been a remarkable year for Zimbabwean athletics, particularly in the 400m category.
Thandazani Ndhlovu clocked an impressive 44.71 seconds, Leeford Zuze followed closely with 44.91 seconds, while Dennis Hove recorded 44.81 seconds.
These performances are significant, not just because of the medals won, but because of the times achieved.
Running such fast times on different tracks shows that Zimbabwean athletes are improving consistently and are now capable of competing with some of the best in the world.
For young athletes like Mathuthu, this success provides both inspiration and a benchmark.
It proves that it is possible to reach the top, even for athletes coming from smaller towns and rural schools.
Mathuthu’s journey from Zezani High School to the African championships is already a story of progress. But for him, this is just the beginning.
The real work starts now.
With a clearer vision of what lies ahead, he returns home determined to train harder, improve his times and earn his place not just in the national team, but in the starting line-up.
The experience in Ghana may not have given him a medal, but it has given him something equally important — hunger.
And for an athlete with ambition, that could make all the difference.
