The Sunday News
Simba Dube Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe team to the International Association of Athletics Federations World Youth Championship set for Cali in Colombia will not go through the traditional camping process due to financial constraints.
The team which comprises 10 athletes has been training separately and is expected to depart for the Championships on 12 July.
The event will run from 15 to 19 July.
The vice-president of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe first vice-president Enias Nhoro bemoaned lack of adequate resources for the team’s failure to go into camp.
“We are in short of resources, and for that reason the team will not go into camp,” said Nhoro.
Enlitha Ncube and Hlanguyo Shingirai were first to book a place for the Championships after staging splendid performances at the AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games that were hosted by Bulawayo in last December.
The two were later joined by Leon Tafirenyika, the 400 metres sprinter who came fourth at the second edition of the African Youth Championships in Mauritius last April.
The remaining seven track and field athletes all scooped gold at the Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa Games which were ironically also held in April in Lesotho.
Nhoro said the athletes had not been inactive as they were making use of various tournaments and that the association had also assigned a number of IAAF certified coaches to help the athletes.
“We have been using invitational and local tournaments as part of our preparations. Although they are training separately, they are being assisted by a number of coaches according to their events,” added Nhoro.
Silas Muringani, Phakamile Lisimati, Rachel Chimare and Enock Nhubu are the coaches who are helping out the athletes ahead of the Under-17 Championships.
Team Zimbabwe
Enlitha Ncube, Hlanguyo Shingirai, Leon Tafirenyika,Tinotenda Matiyenga, Abraham Mapiravana, Godwin Moyo, Vimbayi Maisvoreva, Nomatter Kafudzarura, Lovejoy Mapfumo, Chenge Mapaya.
