NAAZ aim higher

WHILE the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games may appear to be far away, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are already mapping out their grand plan for the showpiece with a number of athletes expected to train outside the country.

Following a disappointing performance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the national association indicated there was need to have partnerships with neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana who have been doing well in international events to assist local athletes improve their standards.

And the local athletics motherbody is not wasting time as they are set to send one of the promising 800m runners, Nyasha Mutsetse, to Botswana for a three-month training programme before the end of this month.

NAAZ president, Tendai Tagara, revealed that Mutsetse will be under the guidance of Botswana coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe, who is currently in the country conducting a sprinters’ coaches workshop.

He had his first workshop in Harare and is now in Bulawayo.

“We are sending 800m runners to Botswana. The first athlete to leave will be Mutsetse. He will be staying in Botswana for three months work- ing under the guidance of the same coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe who is currently in Zimbabwe.

“He has produced a silver medallist in the 800m at the Olympics, in 2012. In the last Olympics he had a semi-finalist in the 800m event, so we believe he is the best coach to work with our 800m runners. So Mutsetse will be leaving in two weeks’ time,” said Tagara.

Tagara said their desire was to push the athletes to qualify for the next Olympic Games.

“The idea is to expose our athletes to the best coaches, and again in Botswana the competition is high. There are 800m runners who are in Botswana who have qualified for the Olympics or the World Championships.

“So we want him (Otsetswe) to help him to push to qualify for the Olympics. Besides that. It’s preparation for the World Championships,” added Tagara.

The NAAZ president said they are looking at forging a long-term relationship with their neighbouring country.

“The same applies technically, if everything goes well we are planning to send one or two coaches and athletes to Germany to train especially on the field events where Germany is quite strong. They have said they have no problem looking after the athletes.