Manuel Mpofu
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) is confident that top athletes will come in their numbers for the Old Mutual 5KM and 10KM Fun Race to be held at Nkulumane Complex on Sunday despite prize money being cut by half.
Bab chairman Manuel Mpofu said they had agreed with sponsors Old Mutual to reduce the prize money for winners of the senior men and women’s races from $1,000 to $500 due to the cash crisis.
“As Bab, we appreciate Old Mutual’s efforts of supporting sport. We still expect a strong field made up of top athletes and upcoming stars. I believe it’s prudent for us to let athletes know that because of the cash crisis, prize money has been reduced by half. The organisers were keen on maintaining last year’s prizes, but we have to understand that cash isn’t readily available at banks, so for purposes of sport benefit, we had to reduce prizes,” said Mpofu.
The runners-up will pocket $400, while third placed athletes will walk away $300 richer. Fourth and fifth place finishers will get $250 and $200 respectively.
Olivia Chitate won last year’s women’s title in 33 minutes 40.71 seconds, while Elijah Mabhunu came first in the men’s category finishing the race in 29 minutes 50.23 seconds and each pocketed $1,000.
For Chitate, last year’s victory was her third consecutive win and she is one of the favourites this Sunday.
Mpofu said some of the top athletes expected at the race include Jacob Mugomeri, Mabhunu, Tendai Zimuto, Nkosiyazi Sibanda, Constance Nyasango, Rutendo Nyahora, Trust Chidomaya, Phathisa Ngwabi, Mabhunu and Samukeliso Moyo.
The Old Mutual 10KM race starts and finishes at Nkulumane Complex. The route will see athletes running along Siyephambili Drive towards Tshabalala and turning right into the Rangemore Road traffic lights.
Athletes will then run about 200M before turning left to join Queen Elizabeth Road, which passes through Bullet Shopping Centre. They will turn into Mqamlazwe Road and then right at the Nkulumane 12 Roman Catholic Church to join Ntemba Road.
At the Khami/Ntemba intersection robots, athletes will turn right and race back to Nkulumane Complex.