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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

ATHLETICS team manager Aaron Whyte believes they stand a good chance for better fortunes at the 13th edition of the African Games already underway in Accra, Ghana.

The continental event that roared into life last week ends on March 23.

The athletics competition is running from next Monday to Friday.

Zimbabwe is competing in athletics, chess, cricket, cycling, judo, karate, swimming, tennis, triathlon and rugby.

Team Zimbabwe travelled in batches depending on competition schedule.

The athletics team is made up of 11 athletes and seven of them – Ngoni Makusha, Dickson Kamungeremu, Artwell Simon, Leeford Zuze, Busani Ndlovu, Wellington Varevi and captain Gerren Muwishi together with coach Faith Dube and manager Aaron Whyte left for Ghana yesterday.

They will meet South Africa-based Rutendo Nyahora, US-based Kelvin Chiku and Ashley Kamangirira in Ghana.

“So we have been working with our relay teams mainly because we believe that’s where we are going to get some of our medals and we have been putting 110 percent effort and its showing with the results that are now coming.

“We have got 4x100m and 4x400m.

“But not saying that only the relays are the only areas that we are expecting medals from. We are expecting some surprises especially from the hurdles, anything can happen there. It might be some good surprises that we are likely to get,” said Whyte.

After a disappointing outing at the 2019 Games in Rabat, Morocco, the team will be out for some positive results this time around.   The likes of Makusha and Kamungeremu were part of the team in 2019.

“This year we mainly focused on podium hopefuls. So we trimmed our team to mainly focus on those we believe can bring us some medals. So we will be expecting some medals from athletics this year,” Whyte said.

The foreign-based athletes have been working at their respective bases preparing for the Games.

Initially the team was made up of 12 athletes but Bradley Makuvire can no longer make it to Ghana

“We have got one athlete who is no longer coming, that’s Bradley Makuvire. He faced some challenges with his paper work in America, so we have got 11 athletes now out of the 12.

“And then we have got Kelvin Chiku, Ashley Kamangirira and Rutendo Nyahora, who are departing from their bases abroad, so we meet them in Ghana.

“So we have been doing daily reviews with them and they have been sending us their competition results and there are very good improvements compared to last season and we are expecting them to do well.”  Ndlovu, set to compete in 400m hurdles is hopeful of a fruitful outing.

“I am very hopeful to do my best and maybe run the Olympic standard because I have raced some of the guys that are going there. So it’s not a new place, I am just ready.  For now, I believe anything can happen because these are big Games. It’s all about the day, if it’s your day then it’s going to be well,” said Ndlovu.

Long distance runner Wellington Varevi will compete in 10,000m and 5000m.

And he is confident of the groundwork he has done.

“I am really happy because it has always been my wish to represent the country especially at the African Games. I will do my best.   My intention is to improve all my personal best. Once I break my personal best I am close to medals because the times are close to that,” said Varevi.

Marathon runner, Isaac Mpofu who is set to run a half marathon at the Games will join the team in Ghana next week.

Mpofu is currently in camp with coach Benson Chauke as he is already working towards his participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

 Athletics Team: Ashley Kamangirira, Kelvin Chiku, Rutendo Nyahora, Isaac Mpofu, Ngoni Makusha, Busani Ndlovu, Gerren Muwishi (captain), Dickson Kamungeremu, Artwell Allington Simon, Leeford Zuze, Wellington Varevi, Aaron Whyte (team manager), Faith Dube (coach).