Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S youth and junior team to compete at the Combined Under-18/Under-20 African Championships left for Nigeria yesterday with some of the athletes hoping to build on their experience from regional Games.
The championships, to run from tomorrow until Sunday, will be staged in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Zimbabwe are fielding 47 athletes and a number of them were in Namibia for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games.
The likes of Trey Chimunya, Cryson Kunorubwe, Tulange Mudenda, Martha Chipuriro, Nenyasha Chihora and Kimberly Kachambwa were some of the names that participated at the Region 5 Games and won medals.
Kunorubwe was part of the 4x400m men’s relay team that got a gold medal, and in the individual events he won bronze in the 400m hurdles.
The 17-year-old is happy with his progress and is looking forward to giving his best in Nigeria.
“The experience was great. That was my first time in such an event — not really the biggest event but I have also been to one of the junior Championships that was held in 2023, I was part of it.
“So it was a plus to my profile participating in the Region 5 Games. I really enjoyed it.
“And about my medals, the fun part is that I got my medals on the third day and I was competing from the first day. So, it was really a great experience and I enjoyed my achievement,” said Kunorubwe.
In Nigeria, he will compete in 400m.
“My expectations, since it is my first time participating in 400m at the Junior Championships, if I can make it out of the heats, at least if I get somewhere to the semi-finals or the finals, it will be a plus for me.
“But I am looking forward to greater things,” Kunorubwe said.
Gold medallist in the girls 1 500m at the Region 5 Games, Chipuriro from the National Sports Academy, is hopeful of a positive show at the continental meet.
“I am delighted that I won gold and the fact that I was representing the country.
“We competed with different people, some were really good and I didn’t expect the competition to be that tough. But I gave my all to win.
“I am looking forward to improving my time I posted in Namibia. Of course I would like to get a medal but the main goal is to run a good time,” said Chipuriro.
Chipuriro posted a time of 4 minutes 39.38 seconds in Namibia in the 1 500m race.
National coach for youth and junior teams Briad Nhubu is confident of the team.
“A total of 47 athletes are travelling to Nigeria. I look forward to a sterling performance in Nigeria, considering that most of these athletes have been in these competitions before and have experience,” he said.
“We expect a tight contest and brave fight for medals. Our athletes will not disappoint there considering their quest for medals in the previous edition.”
At the Championships held in Ndola, Zambia, Zimbabwe got seven medals .
“Most athletes will have PBs and to us thus a huge leap towards podium performance.
“True, AUSC Games were a huge booster of Nigeria because the athletes have used the Games as test run.
“Now that they had managed to challenge the likes of South Africa and Botswana in events they dominate at world stage, I am impressed and very optimistic about their performance,” Nhubu said.
