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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders’ hitman Abraham Mbaiwa was on Friday selected as one of the 10 coaches to take charge of the National Association of Secondary Schools Heads (Nash) Matabeleland North athletics team. The team is set to troop into camp at George Silundika High School on Thursday to prepare for the national track and field finals set for Hillcrest College in Mutare next week.

Mbaiwa is now a teacher at Mabhikwa High School in Lupane, the winning district in the provincial finals held at Fatima High School last Thursday and Friday.

The diminutive former Bosso forward and his team of coaches have a huge task ahead of them in changing the fortunes of the hugely talented, but perpetually underperforming province.

They also have to properly train their athletes to master the art of exchanging batons in relays as spectators were treated to a very poor handover on Friday.

Relays are highly technical and a team that does not do a good job of it is naturally bound to have a forgettable competition.

Head-in-charge of athletics in Matabeleland North Thabani Nkomo said they will have 95 athletes in camp.

“We chose George Silundika High school because of its central location. We’ll be there until departure for Mutare. It’s our hope that the team, from the athletes to coaches, will do us proud, but we’re confident they’ll carry the provincial flag high,” said Nkomo, who is also the headmaster of Dinyane High School in Tsholotsho.

The province’s hopes for medals lie on 16-year-old Fatima High School pupil Dickson Kapandura, who scooped five gold medals, three in individual events and two in relays.

With proper training, the boy is set to be a national treasure.