Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE men’s 4x400m relay team made sure their presence was felt at the Debswana World Athletics Relays when delivering another strong performance to finish fifth in the final yesterday in Gaborone, Botswana.
Zimbabwe, up against global powerhouses, proved they were not in Gaborone to make the numbers when crossing the finish line in 2 minutes 59.79 seconds.
The quartet of Dennis Hove, Leeford Zuze, Gerren Muwishi and Thandazani Ndhlovu had on Saturday posted an incredible performance when producing a blistering national record of 2 minutes 59.01 seconds.
Despite placing third in their heat, the time was good enough to see them through to yesterday’s final as one of the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
In the process, they wrote their own piece of history by becoming the first relay team from Zimbabwe to achieve such a feat at the World Relays.
Zimbabwe also secured qualification to next year’s World Championships in the process.
Muwishi, Zuze, Hove and Ndhlovu were back in action yesterday, and they proved Saturday’s performance was not a fluke.
Speaking from Botswana, national head coach Phakamile Lisimati was full of praise for the team.
“I am so proud of our team, very proud on behalf of everyone as their coach.
“This is one of the best performances that our boys have done.
“We had no stress whatsoever, we had no pressure whatsoever, our task was very simple, we had to do our best, and we had to enjoy the races.
“We had already achieved what we really wanted to do, which is to qualify for the World Championships, and we had it in the bag,” said Lisimati.
The team got US$6 000 for their efforts in a race that saw Africa dominating as hosts Botswana claimed gold in 2 minutes 54.47 seconds. South Africa were second in 2 minutes 55.07 seconds.
The winners received US$40 000 prize money while the runners-up got US$20 000.
Australia clocked 2 minutes 55.20 seconds to take bronze. They got US$10 000.
Portugal finished fourth in 2 minutes 59.75 seconds.
On sixth place was the Netherlands in 3 minutes 00.13 seconds. They were followed by Qatar on seventh place with a time of 3 minutes 00.27 seconds, and Belgium were eighth in 3 minutes 00.69 seconds.
Hove, Muwishi and Zuze were making their second appearance at the World Relays. They formed the core of the team that qualified for last year’s meet held in China.
And for this year, they were joined by Ndhlovu.
Speaking soon after the team’s race in the first round on Saturday, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendayi Tagara could not hide his joy. He said: “I am over the moon. I knew I trusted the project.
“Remember I said we must go for the homegrown solution. That’s what we have to do as a nation.
“We must follow what other countries are doing. Look at Botswana and South Africa. We have joined Botswana; we are now in that league.”
With the team also securing the ticket to the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, Zimbabwe can only hope to build on the momentum and ensure they are ready for the global meet.
And Tagara believes they can still achieve more with the homegrown talent.
“What is now important is to maintain and bring that understanding that we can do it while we are home. We do not necessarily have to be overseas.
“I am happy with the performance of the team . . . They now understand what it is to be among the big boys.
“This is the group where they belong, and where they must now start to reap their rewards.
“We will make sure that we do better again when we go to Beijing. The team will even be stronger than what it is,” said Tagara.
