Swimmers head for regional meet in Malawi
ZIMBABWE heads to the 2018 Cana Zone IV Swimming Championships scheduled for Malawi beginning Wednesday with a weaker squad as some of the top swimmers have opted for the South African Juniors whose dates clash.
A total of 26 swimmers are set to compete with athletes from 12 other Southern African countries. Last year, Zimbabwe had a team of 70 swimmers competing at the championships that were held in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe Aquatic Union president and Chef de Mission for the delegation, Mary Kloppers said the delegation leaves on Tuesday and are looking forward to maintaining their good run in the annual regional tournament.
She bemoaned lack of Government support saying it incapacitated them in directing swimmers to attend the Zone IV championships.
“We selected the best available swimmers for the event as some opted to head to South Africa for the Juniors event being held there. The dates clash so most of the top swimmers opted to go to South Africa as they feel the event is more important when looking at futures events.
“Parents pay all expenses for their children hence it will be difficult to direct them to represent their country at the Cana meet instead of attending the SA event. In the circumstances our hands are tired and we will have to make do with the available swimmers,” said Kloppers.
She said they are unlikely to replicate last year’s performance they made when the annual event was held in Bulawayo as they are travelling with a fewer number of swimmers than the team at home.
Swimming Zimbabwe chairperson, Tracey Doorman echoed the same sentiments saying the country is likely to come back with fewer medals than those they achieved in the past two editions of the competition.
“As there is a clash with the SA Junior Championships in Durban, and top swimmers are competing there rather than in Malawi, we possibly will not get as many medals as in the past 2 years.
“However, we are confident that the team travelling will swim to their best of their ability as they represent their country.
“Our goal is to achieve second place but of course this depends on swimmers from other nations and where they have chosen to go, particularly South Africa and Zambia,” she said.
The coaches that will accompany the swimmers are Mairead Goncalves and Lesley Tomlinson.
Other countries that have confirmed participation in the championships, which will be held at the African Bible College (ABC) School in Lilongwe, include the hosts, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, Swaziland, Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, Zambia and South Africa.
Cana Zone IV president, Jace Naidoo said they are looking forward to a bigger event laced with improved performances.
“We would like to see the Cana ZONE IV Swimming Champs in Malawi continue to highlight the growth and talent of swimming in Southern Africa following the numerous successes of our swimmers at the major continental and international events.
“The previous championship in Zimbabwe was a resounding success with the largest number of participants since the introduction of the competition.
“Despite the challenges of facilities and financial resources we are very proud that Malawi agreed to host the event this year. This will be the second edition of the event to be hosted in Malawi,” he said.
Cana Zone IV 2018 Team GIRLS: 11/12 year; Mkhuseli Mahobele, Saira Ramajan, Jade Chicksen, Julie Tungamirai 13/14 years; Shammah Razunguzwa, Lindiwe Bhebhe, Hannah Mitchell, Makanaka Mawere 15/16 years; Courtney Brown, Claire Melrose and Hannah Putterill 17 and over; Nyasha Mukonoweshuro, Kim Balneaves and Ricardo Joe.
11/12 years; Paul Mwipikeni, Jayden de Swardt, Tawanda Chisungo, Nigel Madzivire 13/14 years; Dylan Huang, Kenan Callaghan, Paul Retzlaff 15/16 years; Brett Jones, Jordan Smith, Thomas Lindsay 17 and over; Chris Vlahakis, Vuyisile Mjimba.