THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) director of coaching and talent identification Lisimati Phakamile is fancying the country’s chances at the 19th edition of African Senior Championships, set to start in Morocco next week.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The prestigious tournament will be held from August 10-14 of this month.
Two athletes in the mould of Mauritius-based Francis Zimwara, who will compete in the 100m and 200m categories and South African-based Rodwell Ndlovu who is set to participate in the 200m and 400m categoriesrespectively will represent the country.
The two will be aiming to outwit some of their fellow African counterparts, fresh from participating at the Commonwealth Games which end today in Scotland’s capital Glasgow.
In an interview with Standardsport on Friday, Phakamile, who will accompany the squad to Morocco, said they are aiming to record good qualifying times.
“We are hoping that the two athletes are going to register good times. That is our major aim, winning one or two medals will be a bonus. It is always difficult to participate in sprinting,” he said.
“But our athletes will still be fresh as compared to other athletes who took part at the Commonwealth games in Scotland. That is going to be our major trump-card for the team,’’ he added.
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Naaz president Tendai Tagara weighed in, saying that he was expecting the two athletes to do the nation proud.
“Africa Senior Championships has never been an easy terrain but I am confident with the athletes we are sending. Zimwara is attached at an high performance centre in Mauritius while Ndlovu is doing well in South Africa,” he said.
“Lisimati will be the advance part as he is set to organise the logistics of the team, amongst other important issues,” Tagara said.
