Sundaymail Editor
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TEAM ZIMBABWE manager for the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships Shireen Ramajan is confident the country’s swimmers will leave a mark at the upcoming meet in Windhoek, Namibia.
Zimbabwe Swimming are sending a 28-member team made up of 15 girls and 13 boys for the championships running from December 4 to 7.
Some of the swimmers based in Harare have been competing at the Harare Amateur Swimming (HAS) Senior Championships at Les Brown Swimming Pool that got underway last weekend.
The provincial gala is held over two consecutive weekends. The first phase took place during the weekend of November 22 and 24.
It resumed on Friday and ends today.
Ramajan said they were ready for the competition in Namibia.
For those taking part at the HAS championships, the Harare gala has provided them with an opportunity to fine-tune their skills.
“A total of 28 athletes will be representing Zimbabwe at the championships. Our swimmers are well-prepared for the championships. They have been training rigorously, and their coaches are confident about their readiness.
“Competing in the HAS Championships is an excellent opportunity for our swimmers to gain valuable experience and fine-tune their skills before the bigger event.
“It helps them to get accustomed to the competition environment and make necessary adjustments,” said Ramajan.
The team is expected to leave for Namibia on Tuesday.
Some of the swimmers have been to the championships before, with the likes of Vhenekai Dhemba and Mikayla Makwabarara boasting experience at the African Games held earlier this year.
The two were part of Team Zimbabwe at the games in Accra, Ghana, in March.
“We have high expectations for our swimmers. Our team boasts talented athletes who have represented Zimbabwe on bigger stages, including Mikayla Makwabarara, Vhenekai Dhemba, Jayden De Swardt, Khaya Vimba and Alexis Johnsen . . . While we acknowledge the strong competition from other countries, our team’s experience and skills will undoubtedly serve them well,” said Ramajan.
Dhemba is is seeking to improve her times during the event and believes, drawing from her experience in Ghana, will be key.
“Being at that level was very helpful. When I went to Ghana, there was a high level of competition that I had never experienced before,” she said.
“It just made me want to push even harder, even though I knew that there was going to be people who were ahead of me. My goal was to try and improve my personal times and try to be as close to those people that I aspire to be as well during that gala.
“And it definitely did help. I was able to post a PB (personal best time) in all of my races when I went to Ghana. I think going into Africa Aquatics Zone IV, I am more familiar with the competition there.
“The goals remain the same and that is to try to improve my times and also work to get times as I am also planning to go for the South Africa Seniors (championships) next year, in March.”
Loyiso Mahobele said competing at the HAS Championships had been vital as she finalised her preparations.
“Swimming at these championships has helped me to see where I need help and need to focus more on training. It has also helped me see where I am before I go to (the Zone IV) competition.
“It gives me the chance to see where I need to improve, what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong,” said Mahobele.
Zone IV consists of Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Team Zimbabwe
Farai Matabeya, Amaranthine Dunkley, Acacia Watson, Alexis Johnsen, Eliecia Chivandire, Neema Bhulabhai, Kristin Jones, Imlah Nyamhunga, Mikayla Makwabarara, Tanatswa Chandiwana, Tafadzwa Chandiwana, Loyiso Mahobele, Vhenekai Dhemba, Mkhuseli Mahobele, Matida Musere, Quinton Kuraimunashe, Timukudze Musere, Kwandokuhle Nkomazana, Ethan Dzvova, Sibusiso Fayayo, Callum Chisholm, Nathaniel Jerahuni, Limbikani Kalipengule, Nathan Chibva, Joshah Siwela, Khaya Vimba, Jayden De Swardt, Ashley Berejena
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