Zephania Ncube: The birth of athletics in Hwange town

THE first school term of every year invokes happy memories of a younger me when I was still a stringer for Zimpapers.

I remember taking it upon myself to be at every sporting discipline considered a minority’s preserve in the 1990s. Among those codes was athletics, a sport that I grew to love after being taken on cross-country races by the legendary Zephania Ncube in Hwange in 1980 along with my schoolmates.

Super Zeph or Zorro was a larger than life character in the coal mining town because of his exploits in the country and neighbouring South Africa where he had won virtually everything from 1 500m to 10 000m on the track.

He was a dominant force in cross country events at that time run either at Morris Depot or Hillside Dams.

His national team tracksuits especially after the Moscow Olympics made him a recognisable figure in Hwange.

The Colliery as we all called Hwange back then like all other mines, was the bastion of sporting excellency with football and athletics at the top of the menu.

While football commanded its own following and Wankie as Chipangano were known, still had relics of the 1970 and 1973 Castle Cup conquests in players like the great Amos Rendo.

But athletics was the sport for all. Management knew of the bragging rights associated with winning the Chamber of Mines Division One title.

So a great effort was put in assembling the team to the extent of at times poaching good talent from other mines.

So after the 1982 Chamber of Mines Championships at the Colliery Stadium, where a few months earlier my St George’s Primary School had come last in the track and field competition, despite heroics by one Sithunyiwe Ncube for the school, who won about four firsts, as we finished last overall on the table, athletics warmed up to me.

It was because of the rousing cheers given to Zephaniah Ncube in the 10 000m. He lapped favourite for the event another legend Kenias Tembo three times and the Hwange Championships became a darling to me as I would get the glimpse to watch some of the big names I read about in the family favourite paper — Chronicle.

Such names as Partson Muderedzi, Charles Gumbura, Magaret Sakala and Tapfumaneyi Jonga were a regular feature and read.

So in those early years of my sportswriting career in the 1990s, I made it a point I renewed my love with the sport ahead of football and boxing.

In my first years I would stumble on passionate teachers, very much in love with athletics and the development of talent in Benson Chauke, James “Bhoqongwana” Rugwevera and Bhekuzulu Khumalo.

Outside the school framework were other great coaches Ken Nyape, Percy Ngwenya, Boniface Magodo, James Mutsauki and Prize Ndlovu.

The 1990s were a period that gave birth to Singazi Dube, Jane Makombe, Faith Kamangila, Samukeliso Moyo, Margaret Mahohoma, Busisiwe Nyoni, Sharon Tavengwa, Zondiwe Nyoni, Fritty Moyo, Sithulile Sibanda, Hlalani Ndlovu, Teurayi Chinguwa all subjected to intense schools competition.

There was also the sprinting sensation who at only Grade Seven, Caroline Ncube was the third best sprinter in the country. Remarkable talent in the form of Yvonne Ntini and Tatenda Goronga threatened to take sport to another level with interest so high that some of us in the Fourth Estate would pay our way to Harare for national finals.

A majority of them rose to national and international prominence.

But the great coaches who were Chauke, Khumalo and Rugwevera were not recognised. Despite deserving major championships like the All-Africa Games and Olympics, they were reduced to manning teams in locally hosted events and those within bus travel in the region.

Eventually they turned their backs on the sports that saw them unearth real gems like Lewis Banda and Marvin Bonde.

What they achieved with unorthodox training methods among them training across the 400m Shangani River width at St Paul’s Mission in Lupane, is yet to be matched by the highly qualified and sophisticated coaches of this day.

The first term has become a traditional bastion of athletics activity at schools and colleges. However, the Government and athletics board have moved in to encourage all-year round participation by pupils and students at schools and colleges.

So much talent has in the past been lost to other sports.

Hopefully when the inter-house competitions start in the next two weeks, coaches will be able to identify the next Artwell Mandaza, Thethelani Moyo, Mandla Mugijima, Arnold Payne, Gailey Dube and Brian Sheep.

With training methods and tacking better, the outstanding talent should benefit from a scientific biased approach led by the National University of Science and Technology.

Days of sadza and bones and later training, running laps on laps without even proper timing are over.

Following an embarrasing showing at last year’s Olympics, the schools championships present an opportunity to make amends.

A chance to identify talented athletes and put them on high performance programmes that could lead the country to a podium position at grand events.

Success as has been proven in the past is a meticulous process, which is well planned and executed to the letter to provide desired results.

Wind assisted or not in 1969, Artwell Mandaza wrote himself into athletics folklore with an astonishing world’s first sub 10 seconds 100m.

He worked hard on the track and with better facilities and career management he could have easily been the biggest sprint name before the likes of Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.

Proper training and career guidance of these kids we see running at schools every afternoon and morning could open up avenues to medals and a livelihood on the track and road.