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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter 

ATHLETICS coach, David Tinago, says it was an honour for Ngoni Makusha to represent the country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Makusha was Zimbabwe’s only representative, in athletics, after getting a universality slot, to be part of the Games.

Local athletes struggled to meet the qualifying standards. 

He was up for competition on Saturday, starting in the Preliminary Round of the men’s 100m, where he came first in Heat One, of the three heats, in 10.32 seconds.

That earned him a place in Round One.

Makusha then finished seventh, in Round One, Heat Six, in 10.43 seconds, and could not progress to the semi-finals. 

The first three athletes, in each heat, and the next three fastest progressed to the semi-finals. 

Tinago, who has been working with Makusha for years, said they were going to build on the experience.

“It’s such an honour to just represent your country, in such a big competition like this,’’ said Tinago. 

“The morale, the environment, just to be here it’s every athlete’s dream, it’s every coach’s dream.  “So, when you get here, rubbing shoulders with some the greatest athletes in the world, it’s really an honour.’’

“It was really a good race for Ngoni. 

“His first round was pretty good and he did manage to execute each, and every phase, which he was supposed to execute.’’

The coach said it was a challenge to try and get into the semi-finals.

“And, getting towards the semi-finals, he really did well,’’ said Tinago. 

“His race was pretty good but experience, and the environment as well, really played a role in this. “It’s a learning curve for both of us and we will take this and utilise to our own advantage, to really look forward for 2024 (Olympics), that’s Paris. 

“We now know what it really takes to be an Olympian and we really appreciate each and every moment that we have been here.’’ 

It was always going to be tough for the Zimbabwean sprinter, taking into account his times, compared with some of the athletes at the Games.

Tinago says they will go back to the drawing board and start planning for the future. 

“We are really grateful to be able to have achieved our goal to be Olympians,’’ he said. 

“Now, we will be setting ourselves a new benchmark and that is to be able to reach the finals, in the coming Olympics, and also to just be able to run personal best times.

“This coming year, this build-up towards the 2024 Olympics, we do have the World Championships, that is in the United States of America. 

“So, that’s our first benchmark that we are aiming for, to qualify for the World Championships, which is really possible for us.

“We will go back home, sit down with the other team and we strategise on how we will get through to the next season. 

“We will give the athlete some break and then we will rebuild towards that. 

“We are really thankful for everyone, who have supported us to be where were are right now, and really thank them for every support that they gave us.’’