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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) has begun preparations for the Africa Youth Olympic Games to be held in Algeria next year and 10 athletes will represent the country.

The athletes are undergoing a week long training camp at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

They were selected based on their performance in the just ended season.

Coaches Kurt Sibako, Beatrice Mandla and Briad Nhubu who is also the Naaz youth director, are taking the athletes through their paces.

Initially 15 athletes were set to attend the camp but the other five didn’t turn up. Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Manuel Mpofu said: “Local athletes and coaches have taken advantage of the camp to gain experience and exposure by attending the camp, which takes a break on Friday. There are plans to have another camp early next year. The shortlisted athletes are to attend all Naaz meets next year .”

Naaz is also conducting a Coach Education and Certification System Level 1 course at White City Stadium as it continues with efforts to improve the standard of athletics in the country.

The coaching clinic is being conducted by IAAF certified lecturers Lisimate Phakamile and Tendai Tagara, the NAAZ president.

A total of 24 coaches are attending the course, with each province in the country being represented by two coaches while the remainder are security forces and university representatives.

The 12-day IAAF accredited course got underway on Thursday last week and will end on December 18.

Shortlisted Athletes

Girls
Nicole Chikosi 100m 200m
Emmaculate Mapurisa 400m 800m
Dorothy Kavumbura Long Jump, Triple Jump
Abigail Maturuka 100mH, 100m, 200m
Vanessa Matimbe 400m, 800m
Langathani Dube 3 000m
Privilege Chikari 1 500m

Boys
Ronald Muchichwa 400m
Phillip Ndlovu 800m, 1 500m
Faeez Miya 800m, 1 500m. — @innocentskizoe.