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Elton Sinyosi

From Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bindura
IT was a bad first day for the National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) Bulawayo team at the Nestle Zimbabwe Physical Education, Track and Field championships when they performed badly at the poorly marked Trojan Mine Stadium track yesterday.

Bulawayo Province got off to a poor start with most of their athletes coming last especially in the 400 metre race.

Having travelled 12 hours on the road on Tuesday, the athletes only had their dinner at 9PM and as if that was not enough, they failed to have their breakfast on time yesterday.

Their food had to be brought to the stadium and they ate just moments before getting into the competitions.

Matabeleland South were the first to get gold in field events when Vulikhaya Dube came first in the boys’ Under-14 long jump with a leap of 4,92 metres.

In second place was Midlands’ Gracious Sibanda with a jump of 4,86 metres.

Achieve Dumara from Manicaland settled for bronze with his 4,72 metres jump. In the boys’ Under-12 long jump, host province, Mashonaland Central’s Gracious Tadivonga got gold with a jump of 4,64 metres, followed by Nyaravani Saruro of Masvingo who jumped 4,29 metres.

In third place was Matabeleland North’s Thabiso Dube with a jump of 4,21 metres. Natasha Mukwavava of Mashonaland East got gold in the girls’ Under-14 discus, throwing 21,56 metres with her closest opponent Mercy Dube of Matabeleland North throwing 20.94,metres.

Manicaland’s Christelle Mzondo came third with a throw of 20.57 metres.

There was some confusion early on when the athletes, despite the stadium having a VIP area with enough cover to house them, the Naph administration deemed it fit to get the main attraction of the gathering here into the sun and the bushes.

Spokesperson for Naph, Elton Sinyosi said there was nowhere else for the athletes to sit as the area with cover was reserved for officials.

A majority of non-officiating teachers some of whom travelled with the athletes, expressed their disgust at the treatment of the pupils, some as young as nine years.

“Surely this shouldn’t be allowed, our kids risk being bitten by snakes. This is why we always say some of these heads aren’t sportspersons at all because all they think of is themselves and their comfort. We’re here because of the athletes and it should be them (athletes) who should be given VIP treatment,” said a teacher who did not want to be named.

Other heads also castigated the Naph leadership for poor planning. They said there was a need to have people with interest and knowledge of sports. “Being in the Naph national leadership position doesn’t really translate into being a good sports administrator or planner. These competitions weren’t planned yesterday but it was known from last year that we will be here this time around and so why did they not organise a tent in time than this abuse. Look at those athletes and how sorry and miserable they look, all because someone failed to plan,” said one head.

Nestle Zimbabwe, represented here by the corporate affairs and communications manager Farai Munetsi were not amused and called on Naph to be better organised.

“A tent would have done the trick,” said Munetsi.

Competition continues today.