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Tadious Manyepo in LILONGWE, Malawi 

ZIMBABWEAN sprinters Panashe Nhenga and Samkeliso Ndebele had endured a lot in the past months. 

They have suffered injuries and they have also not done so well in the World Junior Championships. But, the pair is in the right shape to win gold when they take on the zone in the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

Nhenga is the leading prospect for the country in the boys’ short distances section while Ndebele is expected to win gold in the women’s category. 

They are not the only ones though with Denzel Simusialela another hopeful in the boys’ section and Brenda Njodzi also expected to do well in the female 800m race. 

Nhenga, who is ranked eighth in Africa, says he should run a Personal Best to clip a podium finish. 

“I have had some ups and downs in the build-up to these Games. I have had slight injuries and some other setbacks before. But I have gained form at the ideal time as I brace for this meet,” said Njodzi. 

“I think I have also gathered some key experience in the World Junior and African Championships. 

“I think I stand a very good chance of taking a podium finish in both the 100m and 200m races. I am ranked in the top-eight in Africa and there is no one in that top-eight from Southern Africa. “I think I should just run a Personal Best (PB) which is currently 10:05:07 in the 100m to be able to be on the podium. 

“I think, in athletics, we stand a very good chance of taking home medals”. 

Ndebele is keen to win gold for the country. 

“Athletics is my life and I should show that my life depends on this game. 

“I have been preparing for these Games for a long time now. 

“I have competed in the World Championships and I have taken the positives with me and I hope that will help me perform well in the AUSC Region 5 Games,” said Ndebele. 

“I am here to make my country proud and make everyone surrounding me proud.

“This is a development platform and I am more than eager to showcase the stuff I am made of. “The aim is to win a gold medal in both the 100m and 200m. 

“I am going to throw everything and leave everything in the track. Her PB in the 100m is 12:01:09. Zimbabwe athletics coach, Mavhuto Tumba, said the country can expect wonders from his team which will begin participating in this 13-sport discipline jamboree next week. 

“I am excited being one of the coaches for the participants of the AUSC Region 5 Games. These games are very prestigious and having Zimbabwe as part of the contestants is as inspiring as it is encouraging. “I am very confident these athletes will win medals for the country,” said Tumba. “We are not in Malawi for a holiday. We are here to develop and compete. We need to take the medals home. My athletes have been exhibiting maturity and a strong mentality in training. If they can take the same spirit into the track then we are home and dry”. Zimbabwe are fielding contestants in 12 sport codes including athletics, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, taekwondo, judo, swimming, netball, tennis, eSports, volleyball and athletics VI.

The Games, which will run up to December 11, will officially be opened by Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera at the Bingu National Stadium today. Meanwhile, Director of Sport in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Eugenia Chidhakwa has applauded the spirit shown by the Under-16 basketball players who completed in the 3X3 competition yesterday.