The Sunday News
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Metropolitan’s National Association of Secondary Heads athletics coach, James Rugwevera says his observation is that athletes are still recovering from post-Covid-19 effects and are still to get into full competitive shape.
Rugwevera is leading the Bulawayo team, which leaves on Tuesday for the national finals set for Peterhouse in Marondera next week. The two-day event that will see athletes battle it out in track and field events will run from March 23 to 24. It marks a return for the first time since 2019 owing to the disruption of sporting activities caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have assembled a good team. However, we do not go to the nationals with the same confidence as before. From assessing the athletes, you can tell by their times that the Covid-19 break had its toll on them. However, we will still give it our best and we hope to improve from our 2019 performance,” said Rugwevera.
Bulawayo only managed a ninth-place finish in 2019 with two gold, six silver and two bronze medals, not such an impressive show from one of the provinces known for sporting excellence in the country. Harare Metropolitan are the defending champions having won the last edition of the national finals. They scooped 15 gold medals, 11 silver and nine bronze.
Masvingo province, who came second, had 11 gold, 11 silver and six bronze medals. In third place were Mashonaland West with 11 gold, eight silver and 18 bronze. Manicaland had 11 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze, followed by Midlands with eight gold, six silver together with five bronze.
Mashonaland East finished sixth with five gold, eight silver and nine bronze, followed by Mashonaland Central with four gold and six silver and six bronze.
Matabeleland South were eighth with three gold, five silver and four bronze while Matabeleland North anchored the table with one gold, two silver as well as the same number of bronze medals. — Follow on Twitter @innocentskizoe
