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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
AN initiative by former Bulawayo Province athletics board chairman Vusa Mlilo is expected to play a role in Bulawayo’s return to being a powerhouse in the sport as participation will now be all year round.Mlilo wants athletics to be active for 12 months so that its top stars at schools are not lost to other disciplines.

In the past the sport was concentrated in the first term and thereafter athletes were free to switch to netball and soccer in the second.

“We have started a programme with both primary and secondary school children in mind. We want them to stay active throughout the year.

“In the past we have lost athletes to other sports because athletics is just for the first term at most schools. In our own small way we would like to see the kids run all year round,” said Mlilo.

Three weeks ago Mlilo and his colleagues had a trial run at Northlea and the attendance was good. He said they were left motivated that they could be on the right path for the sport.

Mlilo got backing from BhekuZulu Khumalo, a sports science lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology, himself an athletics coach of repute.

“The launch was well received and hopefully that way we can develop talent as a province. There was  great enthusiasm on the day and the turnout impressive.

“Mlilo and company can develop from that solid start and work on the athletes and also at the same time grooming more athletics officials even from the pupil and student ranks,” said Khumalo, credited with producing Brian Mhembere, Sikhulile Sibanda and Xolani Nkiwane while still at Sikhulile Secondary School in Lobengula West.

But prior to his Bulawayo sojourn, the former Cuba based teaching student had put Sigonde Secondary School of Bubi on the sporting map in the 1990s.

Mlilo got an endorsement also from one of the best athletics coaches in the land, James Rugwevera, who turned village girls from Amandlethu in Lupane into national superstars.

Among his products were Singazi Dube, Fritty Moyo, Busi Nyoni, Sibusisiwe Nyoni and Magaret Mahohoma who at one stage represented Matabeleland North and Zimbabwe at international events and were adopted by Bulawayo Bottlers.

“Such initiatives must be supported by the community. That is the way to go if Bulawayo is to retain its place as the country’s athletics hub.

“The talent is there and several athletes want to stay fit throughout the way and even outside the schools’ calendar.  The leakages that the sport has had in the  past could be plugged that way as those  in athletics will be kept within sight,” said Rugwevera.

The programme is expected to concentrate on cross country events next term as athletes stay fit for the track and field events during the first and second terms of 2015.