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Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter

THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara has hailed the upcoming Gift Chigwere track and field junior championships, saying all is now in place for the second edition of the event.

The championships are scheduled for White City in Bulawayo on April 8 and Tagara said junior athletes have been craving for the races which gives them a lot of opportunities.

“As an association we are happy with the confidence the sponsor is showing in how we have managed the Chigwere Track and Field Championships since their inception last year.

“The championships are on and we are progressing well to see that everyone is registered in time. There is a lot of excitement and a lot of athletes have shown interest in the races.

“All top junior athletes have been craving for such incentives, and all top ten in all the events at NASH have indicated that they will come.

“The venue is in good condition and we are expecting large numbers and new medallists at the championships,” said Tagara. 

The event will be sponsored by Baldmin Holdings.

Baldmin Holdings, a firm with major interests in mining and medical supplies, will, through their foundation, fund three athletics legs that will be held in Harare, Bulawayo and Mashonaland Central respectively.

Former athlete and Baldmin Holdings managing director, Costar Takawira, said they are happy that the Shabanie Mine Track and Field Championships as well as a 10 000m Challenge, a track event that is being introduced this year by the national association, will take place this weekend as a precursor to the big Bulawayo event.

“I can safely say we are almost complete on all the races that we have agreed with NAAZ and they are going to be a success. As a former athlete, I am glad that I am giving back to the community after we managed to get some scholarship for several athletes in the United States.

“We have managed to send several athletes like Faith Nyathi, Kelvin Chuku and Bradley Makuvire, among others, to colleges and universities in United States; and the Bulawayo races will give athletes such opportunities if they beat the qualifying standards. There will also be cash prizes, school fees for a term, courtesy of Exclusive Giftshop and Baldmin Holdings for winners in the races.

“As a former athlete, I saw it good to give young athletes some opportunities and I am sure we will produce more professional athletes through races like these ones,” said Takawira.

Takawira is working with another former athlete, Philemon Hanneck, who is based in the United States. The two were scholarship beneficiaries to Allan Wilson after they were scouted by the late Gift Chigwere, who was a teacher at the Harare school.