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Sikhumbuzo Moyo  Senior Sports Reporter
ALL three Matabeleland provinces will this year focus on quality rather than quantity when they select their provincial National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) track and field athletics squads today and tomorrow.The three provinces, Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North will today and tomorrow hold their competitions at White City, Pelandaba and Colliery Stadiums respectively where they will also choose their provincial squads to take to South Eastern College in Masvingo Province on March 19-20 for the nationals.

Thabani Nkomo, the Nash Matabeleland North athletics boss, said they have realised that taking every athlete to make up the numbers has taught them a cruel lesson as some of the athletes have been a huge disappointment, both in positions and times.

“This year it won’t be business as usual, our focus will not be on positions but on times and distances. Gone are the days where a first position would automatically guarantee an athlete a ticket to the nationals, even if the times are way off the mark,” said Nkomo.

He said even after selecting their provincial team, the athletes would be subjected to a high performance training schedule.

Matabeleland North has seven districts, Nkayi, Binga, Umguza, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Bubi and hosts Hwange.

Nkomo’s Matabeleland South counterpart Norcan Nyamambi also said his province has adopted a results-based approach more than quantity.

“We’ve been badly affected by the departure of our top athletes but I believe with the mechanism we’ve put in place, we shall be able to do well. Focus is on quality,” he said. Eight districts, Gwanda North, Gwanda South, Beitbridge, Insiza, Matobo, Umzingwane, Mangwe and Bulilima make up Matabeleland South.

Peter Gambiza of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province echoed the same sentiments. He however said the general mindset of athletes and some teachers was that anyone who wins automatically qualifies for the next level of competition.

“So until everybody really appreciates that it’s no longer about positions and there are qualifying standards set, it will be hard for the selectors but we too are indeed emphasizing on quality,” he said.

During a Reigate district zonal competition, athletes clocked dismal times when compared with set minimum qualification standards for the African Junior Championships which start today in Ethiopia.

The boys’ 20 and Under 10,000 metres winner clocked 37 minutes, 41 seconds against a minimum qualifying standard of 30 minutes, 50 seconds.

In the 800 metres girls’ 17 and Under age group, the winner crossed the finish line in 2 minutes, 33.16 seconds compared to the minimum qualifying standard of 2 minutes, 10.00 seconds.