‘Play sport all year round’
NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara has urged schools to train children in all sport codes throughout the year for continuous development of the athletes.
Tagara was speaking during the Sports Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe’s annual summer camp in Masvingo over the weekend.
Currently, most schools run different sporting events on a termly basis.
But the veteran administrator and former national coach, who was one of the presenters at the symposium, believes that the system has been one of Zimbabwe’s greatest undoing in terms of sport development.
“I am of the opinion that all sport codes practised in different schools must cease to be a termly thing. Instead, all sporting activities must be practised throughout the year as this helps in talent development.
“Gone are the days when talented school footballers would only be asked to come to the grounds in the second term.
“What would they be doing in the two thirds of the year?
“Internationally, schoolchildren practise and even compete in their sport codes throughout the year. I believe if we do that, we will eventually come to that level of competitiveness which everyone wants to see,” said Tagara.
The highly subscribed camp attracted delegates mostly from schools, tertiary institutions and sports clubs.
The conference participants also had the chance to tour the Great Zimbabwe Monuments as part of sport tourism.
SLIZ president Russell Maradza Mhiribidi acknowledged the delegates and challenged them to run sport at their respective institutions professionally.
“These camps are a platform for sports leaders to network for the good of sport.
“I therefore challenge everyone who had an opportunity to be part and parcel of this conference to implement everything that they have learnt.
“Without a pragmatic approach, our sport will go nowhere,’’ Mhiribidi said.
One of the participants, who is the sports director at Kuwadzana 7 Primary School, Wellington Rupfunde, said the camp has transformed his thinking in as far as developing young athletes is concerned.
“I am very sure camps like these are necessary and can be pivotal in helping our country to be highly competitive.
“Sometimes coaches, especially at junior level, do not pay attention to detail and as such the full potential of young athletes is not realised. This camp in particular has changed my mindset. I now know how nutrition, doping and other things can affect athletes. I am hopeful that everyone has grasped all the thesis,” Rupfunde said.
Sports Commission’s acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere and World Anti-Doping regional boss Nicholas Munyonga also delivered presentations at the summer camp. MANCHESTER CITY moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after Raheem Sterling’s late goal clinched a 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town, while Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal victory over Burnley yesterday.
City have swept aside all comers this season, but they found themselves in the unusual position of trailing at halftime after Nicolas Otamendi’s own goal at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side quickly equalised through a Sergio Aguero penalty in the second half before Sterling’s lucky 84th-minute winner sealed their 11th successive league victory.
City’s gritty success reopened an eight-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United, who had temporarily closed the gap with a 1-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The leaders had controlled the first half yet found themselves behind in stoppage-time when a Tom Ince corner hit Otamendi on the shoulder and flashed into the net.
Guardiola’s men gave an impressive response to that shock setback as they equalised two minutes after the interval.
Sterling was fouled by Scott Malone and Aguero drilled in the spot-kick for his 11th goal of the season.
City pressed for a winner, with Leroy Sane hitting the bar and Fernandinho booked for diving in the penalty area after a challenge from Rajiv van La Parra.
They finally got the victory their dominance deserved late on, but the goal was fortunate in the extreme.
Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl blocked from City’s Gabriel Jesus inside the penalty area.
But the rebound hit Sterling and bounced over the line for his 12th goal of the season — and his second winner this week after his decisive strike against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
At Turf Moor, Arsene Wenger’s side looked set for a frustrating draw as they entered stoppage-time, but they snatched the points when James Tarkowski was ruled to have pushed Aaron Ramsey.
Sanchez held his nerve to slot home the dramatic late penalty and moments later Arsenal were celebrating a 1-0 win that lifted them into fourth place in the Premier League.
“From outside it (the penalty) looked 100 percent. I don’t know why he pushed him in the back. I would like to see it again,” Wenger said.
“In the first half we didn’t find our game. Burnley defend extremely well and are very dangerous on the direct game.”
Burnley boss Sean Dyche fumed: “There’s a lot of me inside that’s raging a lot.
“It was highly unlikely it wasn’t going to get given on a day like today, that’s all I’ll say (about the penalty).”
Without Mesut Ozil, who was ruled out due to illness, Arsenal struggled to break down Burnley.
But Chile forward Sanchez stepped up to seal Arsenal’s second successive league win with his fourth club goal of the season.
At St Mary’s, Everton’s miserable season hit another low point as Southampton romped to a 4-1 win -- giving caretaker boss David Unsworth a fifth defeat in his seven matches in charge following Ronald Koeman’s sacking.
Everton, linked with a move for Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, are now just two points above the relegation zone.
“I cannot stand here and defend them, it was an unacceptable performance, the fans will be furious and so am I. It’s not good enough,” Unsworth said.
Having hit just nine goals in their previous 12 league games, Southampton took advantage of woeful Everton defending to win for the first time in four league matches.