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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe head coach youth and junior Briad Nhubu says they are ready for the challenge at the World Under-20 Championships that begin today despite two of the athletes withdrawing.
The meet is running until Saturday in Lima, Peru.
Six athletes qualified for the championships including jumper Dylan Musarurwa, sprinters Panashe Nhenga, David Nyamufarira, Caledon Ruwende, Alpha Mpofu, and Brendon Muvimi.
However, only four are now expected to compete in Lima as Musarurwa and 400m runner Mpofu are no longer taking part in the meet. NAAZ head coach for youth and junior Briad Nhubu, who is in charge of the team confirmed the changes.
“The jumper (Musarurwa) picked a hamstring injury at his base in South Africa, and the 400m runner also didn’t show up.”
Zimbabwe is now set to field Nhenga, Ruwende, Muvimi, and Nyamufarira, who was expected to join the rest of the team last night in Lima from his United States base.
“The boys are highly motivated and raring to go. “Unfortunately my team is now depleted due to the injury of Musarurwa.
“The 4x100m relay team is still fine provided no one picks an injury during individual events,” said Nhubu.
Nhenga is competing in 100m while Nyamufarira is up for 100m and 200m, and Ruwende is competing in 200m.
They will be joined by Muvimi for the 4x100m relay.
NAAZ president Tendayi Tagara says their efforts in capacity building for coaches are paying dividends following an increase in the number of juniors that made the cut for this year’s junior meet. “It’s the first time since independence that more than five athletes have qualified.
“The development of coaches, especially Level One and Two International, statistically we have at least 10 Level One coaches per district, and five Level Two coaches per province. “This means at least our district athletes are handled by qualified coaches. At the provincial level, they have specialists.
“In the last eight years, our relationship with NASH and NAPH has grown from strength to strength. The two bodies now value the role of NAAZ.
“Also introduction of kids athletics and ongoing training of teachers in kids athletics, in schools syllabus has contributed immensely to NAPH athletics as acquisition of basic athletics is taught in school,” said Tagara. Nyamufarira recently moved to the United States on an athletics scholarship to join New Mexico Junior College.
Nhenga is also in the United States after getting a scholarship as well.
Athletics coach Cuthbert Nyasango, who has been working with Nyamufarira at the National Sports Academy, housed at Bindura University of Science Education is confident in the work they put in ahead of the meet before he left for the United States a few weeks ago.
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