The Sunday News
Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
HWANGE athletics legends Gabriel Chikomo and Themba Ncube are itching to contribute towards restoring the coal mining town’s past glory in the sport through coaching roles after the duo enrolled for a ten-day coaching course which began in Bulawayo from last Thursday.
The course ends on December 18. The Coach Education Certification System (CECS) International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Level One coaching course is being held at the White City Stadium. Speaking in an interview before departure to Bulawayo, both former athletes were pleased to be afforded such a life time opportunity.
“I feel honoured to be given an opportunity to attend such a course and after completion I hope to help future athletes from the province as a whole to be future stars. Restoring athletics prominence in Hwange will need the same gesture like the one we received from the (Hwange Colliery Company) Estates Department who assisted us both to attend this workshop,” said Chikomo, a record holder for Chamber of Mines 100 metres and a bronze medallist in All Africa Games in Algeria(2007).
Ncube was equally thrilled by the opportunity.
“This is a dream for me as I will have a chance to also come back and impart the knowledge to the schools around in coaching seminars as we have a huge job to do here so that in future Hwange is back to its former glory in the sport,” said Ncube, whose personal best achievements include 100m (10,4 sec), 200m (20,70 sec) and 400m (45,95 sec) accolades.
The two athletes were also part of formidable 4 x100 and 4 x 400m relay teams from around 1993 to 2007 which had the likes of Lloyd Zvasiya, Lewis Banda, Talkmore Nyongani and Jeffrey Wilson.
Enock Ngwenya, the Matabeleland North Athletics board chairperson also welcomed the new stride taken by Chikomo and Ncube.
“Athletics in the district and province is the winner as the young athletes will have an opportunity to be coached by record holders. They will definitely produce many “Gabriels” and “Thembas” from the area as the young ones will aim to emulate their achievements. We have also been doing a lot on developing the sport through conducting provincial courses and also seconding our coaches for similar workshops,” said Ngwenya.
He said Xolani Mumba and Memory Shonhiwa from Tsholotsho and Hwange respectively were part of the class who attended the sprints seminars workshop held in Bulawayo from 29-30 November 2017 conducted by renowned Botswana sprints coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe.-@tobymandox
