Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WITH the team to compete at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships now in place, head coach Phakamile Lisimati has said they are hoping for podium performances in a number of events.
The championships will run from May 12 to 17 in Accra, Ghana.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe named a 12-member team to carry the nation’s hopes at the continental meet.
United States-based sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba headline the team.
Makarawu is one of the athletes from the 2024 team that have bounced back for this year’s edition. He is expected to line up for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
Makarawu won a silver medal in 200m at the previous edition staged in Cameroon.
Lisimati said they are mainly pinning their hopes on the sprints and relays as they are fielding teams in the men’s 4x100m, 4x400m and the 4x400m mixed relay.
“We are hoping for medals again on the short sprints looking at the athletes that we have especially on the men’s side.
“We are going to be fielding three relays, 4x400m men, 4x400m mixed relay and also 4x100m men.
“We are hoping that this time instead of picking one or two medals at the African Senior Championships, we are expecting to pick an increased number of medals.
“And also, an improved quality of medals at the podium, from bronze to silver, silver to gold. So that’s our expectations,” Lisimati said.
The 4x400m relay team consisting of Gerren Muwishi, Thandazani Ndhlovu, Dennis Hove and Leeford Zuze will be hoping to build on their recent showing at the World Athletics Relays.
The team placed fifth in the final. The likes of Muwishi, also to compete in the 400m; hurdler Ashley Miller; Ngoni Makusha; and Dennis Hove were all in Cameroon for the previous championships in 2024 and know what to expect at this level.
With the 2027 World Athletics Championships qualification window now open, the athletes are not just chasing medals in Ghana but also qualifying times. The 4x400m relay team have already secured their spot for next year’s global meet following their fifth-place finish at the World Relays.
“We are going to be very positive on this one.
“We know, we are all aware, our team is aware, our athletes are aware that the World Championships qualification window recently opened.
“This is not just an outing for our team but we want to have individual athletes qualifying for individual events at the championships.
“We have qualified already for one relay. We are praying and hoping that with the performance, the zeal, the motivation and form that our teams and our athletes are in currently, we should be working on qualifying for the 4x100m team.”
Lisimati said he has been impressed with the locally-based talent.
“It’s doing well. The coaches locally are doing exceptionally well. We are almost matching Botswana. We are almost matching South Africa in the region as far as the performance of our sprinters is concerned.
“We are very excited and happy that we are sending a team that is having their tails up, very hopeful, very optimistic and very motivated to the African Championship,” said Lisimati.
Zimbabwe got a silver medal from Makarawu in the 200m and triple jumper Chengetayi Mapaya at the previous championships. Mapaya, however, is not part of the team going to Ghana. The head coach is expected to leave for Ghana on Friday to meet with the US-based athletes who are expected to be in Accra early.
All local-based athletes will depart for Ghana on Saturday, and everyone is expected to be in by Sunday ahead of the start of the competition on Tuesday.
Team Zim
Men: Leeford Zuze (400m, 4x400m relay), Dennis Hove (400m, 4x400m relay), Thandazani Ndhlovu (400m, 4x400m relay), Gerren Muwishi (400m, 4x400m relay), Derick Matutu (4x400m mixed relay), Methembe Tshuma (200m, 4x100m relay), Tapiwanashe Makarawu (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay), Makanakaishe Charamba (200m,4x100m relay), Ngoni Makusha 100m, 4x100m relay)
Women: Ashley Miller (400mH, 4x400m mixed relay), Samukeliso Ndebele (100m, 200m) Anesu Nyahuma (400m, 4x400m mixed relay).
