Dzingai out of All Africa Games

Sport
BY ALBERT MARUFU ZIMBABWE’s All Africa Games medal hopeful Brian Dzingai is doubtful for the 10th All Africa Games appearance as he is injured.

According to a source close to the two-time Olympian, he has a recurring back injury and will also be writing his final examinations from September 10 to the end of October around the same time the All Africa Games will be taking place.

The 10th All Africa Games runs from September 3 to 18 in Maputo, Mozambique.

“Brian is not fit even to get a medal there (Mozambique) and he understands that so he pulled out. He could not make it to the world’s (IAAF World Championships) and he is stressed my brother,” said the source from Paris yesterday.

Dzingai, a vital member of the squad that specialises in 100m and 200m, won a bronze medal at the last edition of the All Africa Games held in Algeria. The withdrawal of Dzingai, who finished fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games, leaves the burden on young athlete Ngoni Makusha.

Ironically, both Makusha and Dzingai are coached by the same coach Ken Harnden.

Makusha is part of the 19 athletes that were called for the Games and will be competing at the world Championships in South Korea from where he will fly directly to Maputo, Mozambique.

Dzingai was part of the Zimbabwe relay team that won a bronze medal in Algeria and all eyes were on him, together with Kirsty, Makusha and Gabriel Mvumvure.

Dzingai represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games where he was the flag-bearer for the Zimbabwe contingent.

He competed in the 200m and came first in the first round heat with a time of 20.25seconds and subsequently finished fourth in the final, thereby missing out on the medals.

The Zimbabwe team for the All Africa Games goes into camp on Thursday at Belvedere Teachers College and leaves for Mozambique on August 31.