Bakare targets fresh start
THE 2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Rookie of the Year, Jayden Bakare is hoping for a fresh start of his career after a nightmarish 2023 season with Dynamos last year.
The 21-year-old striker recently crossed the great divide and signed a two-year contract with Dynamos arch rivals CAPS United.
Bakare made a dream move to Dynamos from relegated Gweru-based side Whawha at the start of the 2023 season.
However, his stay at DeMbare was a disaster as he was restricted to limited appearances with injuries contributing a fair share to the problem.
In a disappointing campaign, Bakare made seven appearances in all competitions scoring two goals, including one against his new paymasters, and assisting on five occasions.
With Dynamos embarking on another rebuilding exercise, Bakare was included among the unwanted players to be loaned out for the 2024 season.
However, Bakare engaged Dynamos to be released from his three-year contract on a mutual separation and went on to pen a two-year deal with the Green Machine.
Bakare revealed that he is ready for a fresh start to his career with CAPS United.
“Due to injuries last season, I struggled for game time at Dynamos and I feel the lack of game time had an impact on my career.
“I felt the need to change the environment and it feels great to be here at CAPS United.
“I am looking forward to a new start,” said Bakare.
The young forward feels the lessons he learned at Dynamos will be key in fitting into the Caps United team.
“Apart from the lack of game time at Dynamos which was caused by injuries, I took some lessons from the club which I hope will help me here.
“Dynamos is a big brand so is CAPS United, and one of the lessons that I learned at Dynamos is that with such big teams, you need to work hard to be rewarded.
“This is what I have been doing and I am happy to say that I am ready for the CAPS United challenge,” said Bakare.*
YOUNG triathletes Rohnan Nicholson and Callum Smith are looking forward to the exposure and experience when they take part in the African Games next month in Accra, Ghana.
The Games are scheduled for March 8 to 23.
Smith and Nicholson are part of Team Zimbabwe and will compete against elite men from different countries at the continental show-piece.
Andie Kuipers and Lorna Doorman are the country’s representatives in the women’s section.
Triathlon Zimbabwe president Ross O’Donoghue announced the triathlon team at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup function on Saturday.
Fifteen-year-old Nicholson said it’s going to be a learning curve competing with some of the continent’s elite athletes.
“It’s going to be a hard race. But I think it’s great for experience. So I am going to give it my best and see what we get out of it.
“I think it’s going to give me exposure. The elites are high up there in how they race and the skills, the technique, so I am just going to learn from this event.
“I don’t have any expectations because it’s going to be a hard race because there is going to be old people and we are only 15,” said Nicholson.
Kuipers is the most experienced as she is already competing at the elite level while the trio of Nicholson, Smith, and Doorman will be competing at the level for the first time.
Nicholson, together with Smith participated in the Africa Junior Cup, which was held alongside the Africa Cup over the weekend at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga. Smith, who is also 15 years old, is looking forward to the Games.
“I feel very excited for this race coming up. I am going against the top people in Africa. So I am looking forward to it and I am so excited that I got picked for this opportunity, to go and represent the country in Ghana.
“I am very nervous about this because, I mean everybody there is going to be at least in their 20s. So I am very nervous as most countries or all countries are going to be sending their two best male athletes and that’s what Rohnan and myself have to go up against,” said Smith.
For the pair, taking part in the Games will be more on the developmental side.
Team Zimbabwe chef de mission Eltah
Nengomasha, giving an update on the country’s participation and preparation for the Games recently, noted that there were several factors they considered in selecting sports codes for the Games.
And one of them was development, in particular for sports codes they believe have the potential to progress beyond their current performance.
Triathlon Zimbabwe national coach Pamela Fulton said the Games will give the up-and-coming athletes an insight into what it takes to get to the elite level, which is vital for their progress.
“So for them (Smith and Nicholson) it’s trying not to put the pressure on them and no expectations of them because they are racing against the elite. But for them to come out of that saying they have raced elites to sort of and when they do move into the elite field, get the understanding of what is required. “The training that is required to get so much better and they get to naturally carry on, developing and growing and get stronger naturally as they turn into Under-19 year-olds, well turn 19 and then into Under-23,” said Fulton.
At the 2019 Games, in Morocco, triathlon contributed two medals — one silver and one bronze for Team Zimbabwe.
BRYDEN Raynars and Bella Mella were crowned the Zimbabwe Open Squash champions at St John’s on Sunday.
The duo was part of the three-day tournament which began on Friday across three venues — Highlands, St Georges, and Old Georgians.
It was the reigning champions,s who successfully defended their titles in a tournament that had so much competition.
Just like the previous competition Raynars went into the final against Peterhouse’s Ruvimbo Midzi whom he defeated in straight sets, 9-4, 11-6.
Raynars said he was happy with his performance and is hopeful that they will continue with the level of competition they are enjoying.
“I am very happy with the win and it came off against the same opponent I faced when I won last month’s tournament. The competition was tough and I know Midzi very well as I have played against him on several occasions.
“He is a tough opponent whom I have played with ever since he was at St Georges where we played in the championships. Midzi has been a tough opponent for me as
DEFENDING champions Harare are on course to retain the National Senior Swimming Championships title with their swimmers posting some positive performances in various events.
The competition got underway last Friday and ends today at Les Brown Pool.
Harare has more swimmers compared to the rest of the provinces and has over the years dominated the meet. However, they face stiff competition from Bulawayo, who have produced several good swimmers as well.
The hosts are leading on the combined team scores, followed by Bulawayo. Mashonaland Country Districts are placed third.
Vhenekai Dhemba, who is one of the captains for Harare said they have been working hard as a team.
“I think the competition has been very good. I think all of our swimmers have been putting in a lot of effort, time and training to be doing well including me. Hopefully, we continue to get more medals . . . We also have a lot of good swimmers on our team.
“In terms of my time, I have been able to continue getting my PBs (personal best). And then I also got a PB for my 50m breaststroke yesterday, which was quite good and currently, I am on my PBs for all of my races, which means that hopefully as I continue doing competitions, my times will continue to go down.”
She picked gold medals in 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke.
Dhemba is part of the swimming team he used to win most of our battles but I think I have improved and I am now on top of the game. I will continue to work hard and I am looking forward to my next tournaments,” said Raynas.
Mella, of Hellenic College, defeated Beulah Nyakabawo in the final and wants to continue to work hard while taking part in as many tournaments as possible.
“I am very happy to have defended my title. It has been a very tough competition but I am grateful to my supporters and the coaches, who are pushing me. I am glad that I am in the right direction and will always continue to practice hard as an athlete.
“I am happy that the sport is now getting the support it deserves and I hope we will have more competitions in the future,”said Mellow. The boy’s Under-16 was won by Brett Raynars, who got the better of Micar Rowlands in the final while Zach Smith was third. The Under-16 girls’ tournament was won by Natasha Gwidzima after she defeated Emma Craven with Alicia Nyoni coming on third.
Celeste Makuwa was crowned the Under14 girls champion ahead of Heather Rusere and Ratidzo Zimunhu. Mathias Rowlands won the boys Under-13 title ahead of Samuel Eastwood and Mathew Eastwoods. for the African Games.
Some of Harare’s swimmers that have been dominating their events include Neema Bhulabhai, who is competing in the Girl’s 13-year-old age group. By yesterday afternoon she had nine medals — eight gold and one bronze.
Some of the events she won gold medals include 400m freestyle where she posted a time of 5 minutes 10.51 seconds. Bhulabhai was also the first to touch the wall in 200m freestyle in 2 minutes 25.73 seconds as well as in 100m freestyle with a time of 1 minute 06.62 seconds.
Alexis Johnsen has also had a good competition, claiming gold medals in 400m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, and 200m freestyle in the Girls 14-year-olds.
“It’s been going good so far. The events went better than planned and my times were better than I expected. I have gotten gold in all my races.
“I feel good in the water,” said Johnsen. Bulawayo’s Jayden De Swardt posted some good times and claimed gold in the Boys 17 and Over 400m freestyle in 4 minutes 37.88 seconds. He also got gold in 200m freestyle with a time of 2 minutes 08.70 seconds.
Bulawayo dominated in most of the relay events.
Other provinces taking part in the championships are Matabeleland South, Midlands, and Matabeleland North.
The championships also attracted swimmers from Gaborone Aquatics Club and Crocs.