Midlands Correspondent
MIDLANDS has announced a 45-member team to represent the province in the 2016 National Provincial Track and Field Championships to be held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo this weekend.
The team was selected based on results of the AA Mines Track and Field Championships held in Zvishavane last month.
Some top athletes that form the Midlands’ team include Wirimai Juwawo, who has already qualified for this year’s Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, hurdles specialist Pride Lusinga and sprinter Abdul Simbili.
Enlitah Ncube, who took part in last year’s World Junior Olympics and the World Youth Championships, is also one of the province’s medal hopefuls.
However, some of the athletes could miss out on the action as the Midlands Athletics Board (MAB) is facing serious financial challenges
and has asked individual clubs to fork out expenses for their athletes.
A letter to the clubs from MAB secretary William Chuwa called on clubs to foot bills for officials that would be part of the track and field jamboree.
“We humbly request that clubs and organisations assist in funding their members, who have been selected for the event. Due to our geographical location, we have not been able to secure a common mode of transport, hence we request that clubs meet the travel arrangements for the selected members and cater for their subsistence as well,” reads part of Chuwa’s letter.
“Officials have also been invited to officiate at the event and the same request for clubs and organisation to assist them with transport and subsistence also applies.”
Those that will officiate at the championships include Lucia Kokera of Sally Mugabe Primary School, Chuwa of Shabanie Mine, Zimglass’ David Charlie and Silas Banda of Unki Mine.
Chuwa said the board was in dire straits financially as few athletes had paid membership fees, while there has been very little corporate support for athletics in the province.