adminThis was confirmed by Anna Mguni, the Zoc chief executive officer, on the sidelines of the PSL strategic planning workshop on Friday. She said Zimbabwe had the potential to make it in the 4x100m and hence their decision to help the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe’s bid to make history.
Mguni commended Naaz for being forthcoming in helping identify the team for the trials.
“Athletics is one of those sports that when we go to such international events we have high hopes on them bringing us medals. We have world class athletes in their midst and we hope this year, things will be better for them.
“Zoc has been in dialogue with Joseph Mungwari’s Naaz and we are reading from the same page. It is good to note that we have been communicating well on the issue and that they have given us names of athletes who are on the radar and stand a good chance of qualifying. We have Cuthbert Nyasango having qualified for the marathon event, Ngoni
Makusha in the long jump. He is among many sprinters still vying for qualifying standards in the sprints,” said Mguni.
She said the athletes would team up in the next two months in the US and participate in some high level competitions which would provide them with a platform to seek to qualify.
“We are providing funding for the athletes to at least take part in two events where they could probably qualify for the London Olympics where we believe we have a chance,” said Mguni.
Makusha, whose 9.89 seconds is a national 100m record, could team up with Marvin Bonde, Francis Zimwara, Paul Madzivire, Anthony Hobwana and Gabriel Mvuvure in the 4x100m relay.
This is the strongest 4x100m relay team Zimbabwe can ever assemble.
Mguni said she was not happy with the number of women in the spotlight going into the Olympics.
“There is not much we can do as Zoc, it’s the national associations to push the drive for more women’s involvement in sport.
“It’s got to start with the Youth Games and then we identify talent at that young age and have the associations developing it until we can come in when they show promise of being Olympic material and we assist too,” said Mguni.
Kirsty Coventry remains Zimbabwe’s best medal hope in swimming while in athletics Makusha stands out.
Online Reporter