The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube Sports Correspondent
THE National University of Science and Technology has been commended for taking an active role in the development of athletics in the country by working with Arnold Payne to bring to Zimbabwe a world class coach. Darryl Anderson, a world class track and field coach arrives tomorrow on an educational trip facilitated by Nust and Payne Global Sports International.
It is the first time such a high profile athletics figure will be in Bulawayo.
Anderson will lecture students and academics before holding a workshop for athletes and coaches a day later.
Anderson’s trip is the brainchild of Payne, a former Zimbabwe national sprinter who has represented the country at the All-Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships and is keen to see local talent reach the top.
Payne believes exposure to people who are used to better practices and standards may catapult enthusiasm in athletics and sport in general to greater heights.
“We remain committed to helping youths out there in Zimbabwe reach their targeted goals by exposing them to world coaches and opportunities. We are happy Nust has agreed to partner us in a first for Bulawayo and we are committed to bringing more world renowned personalities to come and share with sports science students and associations,’’ said Payne.
“As Payne Global Sports International I am happy and grateful that my former coach and that of national record holder in the 400m Darryl Anderson has agreed to come and share with my fellow countrymen in a trip where I also intend looking at the youngsters and making recommendations for scholarships abroad. It is not regularly that you get such a high profile man agreeing to help.”
Thabo Moyo a graduate of the institution and now a Zimbabwe rugby performance analyst said Anderson’s trip to Bulawayo was endorsement of the institution. He said students who will attend his lecture will get it first hand that sport is no longer a recreational activity but a multi-billion dollar industry.
A number of the institutes’ graduates have found jobs with associations and Premier football clubs and are putting into practice what they learnt at the institution.
Nust graduates are expected to change the sport’s character and face in the next five years as they add a scientific approach to it.
To date most clubs and associations still lag behind in their approach to sport in a very dynamic environment changed by the professionalism that has seen the industry growing to par entertainment in high stake earnings.
