Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the countdown to the Confederation of African Athletics Combined Under-18/Under-20 Championships scheduled for Nigeria continues, head coach for youth and junior teams Briad Nhubu is confident they will field a strong team.
The meet is scheduled for July 16 to 20, with more than 500 young athletes expected to participate. It was initially scheduled for Madagascar before it was moved to Algeria.
And now it is being held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are looking at fielding more than 20 athletes in track and field events at the biennial event that presents young athletes with a platform to showcase their talent.
Some of the athletes were part of the field at the inter-provincial championships held over the weekend in Bulawayo.
With most of the athletes hamstrung by school commitments, Nhubu admits it’s a tricky situation in terms of preparation.
However, he believes that with the help of the various coaches working with the athletes, they will ensure the selected athletes are ready for competition. “Unlike Zambia, this competition is a little bit tricky in the sense that it’s in the middle of the term.
“In terms of preparation, however, we used this Bulawayo competition as part of the progress assessment.
“We are encouraging all the coaches who work with these athletes to continue monitoring them and preparing them.
“We think the preparation behind the scenes, of course, is taking place. However, it was going to be very nice for us if we were going to have a camp because that one will, of course, add more value.”
In the last edition of the biennial event staged in Zambia, Zimbabwe picked up seven medals — three silver and four bronze.
Nhubu is hoping they can surpass the previous performance with some of the athletes graduating from Under-18 to Under-20 for this year’s edition.
And will be hoping the experience comes in handy. “We are prepared to get some medals, of course. We hope to surpass the number that we got in Zambia and also possibly to change the colours.
“With the Under-18s, we have a very good number whom we think can give us a good show. “If they happen to perform as they did in Zambia, we look forward to one or two medals from the Under-18.”
Nhubu is also optimistic about the Under-20 crew.
“Then we have the Under-20 category. Most of the top athletes in the category are in the team, and we expect them to get onto the podium and probably get a medal of any colour. “Not forgetting that we are going to be facing champions, the likes of Botswana, South Africa and Nigeria. Other countries like Tanzania, are also doing very well in athletics.
“Nevertheless, if our athletes maintain their current performance, we can come up with very good results,” said Nhubu.
He added that the championships present a platform to also prepare for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
And they have roped in a number of young athletes they believe stand a chance of making the Games.
“So, amongst the Under-18, we have athletes we would want to prepare for Youth Olympics 2026.
“We think it’s a very good platform for them to rub shoulders with other athletes at higher-level competitions.
“So, they are amongst the Under-18 category, and we have quite a number of them, I think more than eight.
“And with balance, the boys and girls, we have equal numbers for boys and girls in that category. They are Under-18, but under the bracket of Youth Olympics.
“So, besides going there for medals, we are also preparing them for 2026.”
They are also pushing to field 4x400m and 4x100m relay teams.
