Early season opener for HAB

Sport
THE Harare Athletics Board (HAB) is primed for an early season with first track and field events slated for January 10 at the National Sports Stadium, an official has said.

THE Harare Athletics Board (HAB) is primed for an early season with first track and field events slated for January 10 at the National Sports Stadium, an official has said.

By Brian Nkiwane

HAB secretary general Silas Muringani confirmed the dates for the event that will be open to everyone, including people with disabilities.

“All athletic clubs, schools, colleges, universities and individuals are welcome,” he said. “This is going to give athletes that will be taking part in numerous regional and international events a true picture of their performance. From there, they will go back to their bases and try to work on their weaknesses that they would have seen.” He added, “As an association, we have seen it as a noble idea to have at least one event of such magnitude after every two weeks so that we improve on the number of athletes that qualify for international events.”

Muringani said next week’s event was arranged to kick- start training for athletes that would represent the country at the World Championships next year, while a similar event was set for the last weekend of January in Bulawayo.

“We will be having such events after every two weeks. After the January 10 event, we will have another one at the end of the month in Bulawayo while we decide which other province will host the third event in the period stated.”

Muringani said there was need to assist athletes that had qualified for Rio 2016, as well as athletes that had qualified to represent the country in the junior categories in Kazan, Russia in July 2016.

“Apart from those that will be going to Rio 2016 and Russia, we also have the African Union Sports Council Region Five Games that will be held in Angola in December. It might appear as if it’s still far off, but proper preparations must start now,” Muringani said.

Another event singled out by Muringani was the Nash Cosafa competition, which will be held in Namibia, as well as the Winter Paralympics.

“This is the reason why we are saying all people are invited. Paralympians have to start preparing as well,” Muringani said.