Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WITH less than two weeks to go before the World Athletics Relays roar into life in Gaborone, Botswana, Zimbabwe’s 4x400m relay team is eager to leave a mark at the event.
The men’s 4x400m team made up of captain Gerren Muwishi, Leeford Zuze, Thandazani Ndhlovu and Dennis Hove will carry the nation’s hopes at the relays to take place on May 2 and 3.
The team is scheduled to leave for Botswana on Thursday.
They will take part in the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on April 26 and will remain in Botswana for their camp ahead of the World Relays under the guidance of coach Mavhuto Tumba.
Each of the six events — Women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, Men’s 4x100m and 4x400m, and Mixed 4x100m and Mixed 4x400m relays on the programme in Botswana — will feature 24 teams.
The top 12 from each event will automatically qualify for the 2027 World Championships.
Tumba believes they have a realistic chance of making the cut.
“We are hoping that the times are going to drop in terms of the World Relays,” said Tumba.
“I am not expecting higher things. But what I am seeing is another record being broken before three months after being set. That’s what I am seeing.
“We have got higher chances of qualifying. Some of the big dogs, they are not even showing up in terms of the 4x400m, so it means we have got higher chances of qualifying.
“As long as our guys are going to be more focused on it, definitely we are going to qualify for the World Champion-ships,” said Tumba.
The team set a new record of 3 minutes 00.69 seconds last month at the Lefika International Relays in Botswana.
Most of the team members returned to Gaborone for the Road-To-Botswana Golden Grand Prix held a week ago for their individual events, mainly 400m, and Zuze posted a time of 44.91 seconds while Hove ran 45 seconds.
Ndhlovu clocked 45.14 seconds.
The times have been encouraging as they build-up to the relays, where they will face stiff competition against some of the world’s leading teams.
Bulawayo-based Ndhlovu has shifted his training base to Harare ahead of the team’s departure.
Tumba said while they are polishing up on a few aspects, the main focus would be to ensure the athletes maintain their fitness.
“We are not having a camp here, so most of the guys will be working with their coaches. But we have planned that the athletes are going to meet at least three times a week before we travel to Gaborone, Botswana.
“We will be travelling to Gaborone, Botswana on the 23rd. That’s when the camp will be starting, when we get to Gaborone.
“But what these guys are showing is that they are in good shape. Hopefully, we are going to be able to maintain the level of fitness that they have.
“Once we are able to maintain that, it’s going to be easy for us,” Tumba said.
Hove is optimistic of a good performance in Botswana.
“We are now preparing for the World Relays. I am hoping we do well, and break the national record again.
“The preparations are going well, everything is going well, just working hard in training,” said Hove.
His teammate, Zuze said: “We are happy we qualified. We managed to be in a more comfortable position for our qualification.
“It was a tough journey, travelling by bus. But now we will be flying to Botswana, I think it makes things a bit better, and we will try to do better.
“The only challenge is on the financial side of it. If we can get more funding and support, I think it can also motivate us,” said Zuze.
