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Burnett, affectionately known as Bunye, died last Tuesday after he lost control of his vehicle, before it overturned, on his way home from St John’s College where he was doing his ‘A’ Levels.

The teenage swimming and rugby star had qualified for the World Junior Swimming Championships and was preparing for the showcase.
Zimbabwe Aquatic Union president, Marry Kloppers, said it was sad that Burnett, who was one of the athletes who had qualified for the showcase, would not be part of the team.

“It’s very sad because this would have been his first international event,” said Kloppers.
Burnett was buried in Harare on Sunday.

The championships are expected to attract over 800 elite swimmers from 90 countries and they will compete in various events over six days.
Zimbabwe will be represented by two boys — Chad Idensohn and James Lawson and Robyn Lee is the only girl in the team.

The championships are being used as a qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games to be held next year in Nanjing, China, and Kloppers said they were hoping that Idenhson and Lee get the qualifying times.

“They are all going to compete in different events and they will be competing in quite a number of events. This is a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games, so certainly we are hoping that they qualify.

“The competition is extremely tough and medals would be out of this world but we are hoping they get into the finals,” said Kloppers.
Kloppers said the major setback for the sport was the lack of facilities and sponsorship and they don’t have a broad base when it comes to selection as compared to other countries.

“It’s top swimmers from the world we are competing with, we don’t have the numbers to draw from.
“If you take a look at a country like the United States they have thousands of thousands (of athletes) to choose from, that’s where the difference is.

“Secondly, the facilities and funding we do not have,” said Kloppers.
The team will be guided by Sheila Crause as they seek to raise the country’s flag high and are expected to leave for Dubai on August 23.