adminvice-president of the Zimbabwe Gymnastics Association believes they have assembled strong teams for both competitions, which will run from December 8-14 at different gymnasiums in Pretoria.
“We are looking forward to competing this year. We have always achieved high results at this competition and this year will be no different.
“All our team members who have qualified to travel to South Africa have put in long hours and are totally dedicated to the event.
“We are grateful to companies like Pioneer Coaches, who support our sport and we are sure they will do well. The teams are currently in camp at three different venues. The boys are at the University of Zimbabwe and at Marondera while the girls are preparing at the Harare International School.
“The practice is going on well in all the disciplines and they are no injuries,” said Muchatuta.
Six different disciplines comprising both senior and junior sections such as Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Tumbling and Aerobics.
Last year the competition was held in Walvis Bay, Namibia and Zimbabwe came second overall in the team results, after winning the senior men’s Artistic, male Trampolines and Junior female Aerobics.
Top local gymnast Kudzaishe Nyazvigo, from Chitungwiza, who started his gymnastics career at the Glen View Community Hall will lead the Zimbabwe search for medals.
Nyazvigo is the current Southern African Individual All Round Champion, after winning the all-round competition and scooping five gold medals and one silver medal in Walvis Bay, Namibia last year.
The Zone VI competition which is the second biggest on the sport’s annual calendar for Africa, will see six countries from all over the southern region participating, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The African Championships being the biggest event on the year’s calendar will be attended by all the Zone Six countries.
North and Western Arican nations such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Cape Verde, Libya and Senegal will also take part.
The team will have 42 gymnasts who will compete in the Southern African Championships.
Six instructors will accompany both teams.
Deon Wheelson, managing director of Pioneer Coaches said, “As one of the leading coach companies in Zimbabwe we feel privileged and honoured to come on board and sponsor the national team’s transport to and from the tournament this year.
“Historically they have attained excellent results in this event and we hold high hopes for them this year.” said Wheelson.
Zone VI and Africa Championships are both fully F.I.G. (Federation International Gymnastics) registered competitions.
The competitions will also be used as qualifiers for world events.
Zimbabwe is one of the pioneer countries for the Zone VI competition and hosts the event on a rotational basis with Namibia and South Africa. Zimbabwe last hosted the event in 2010, and will play host again in 2013.
But because they are traveling Zimbabwe will reduce the size of their team from the 112 that took when they hosted the event to 48 due to prohibitive costs.
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa