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Geophrey Sifani Sports Reporter
ABOUT 43 Nust sports science and coaching students will be assessed this evening at Northlea High School after completing a two-day National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) Level One athletics coaching course.

The course ends today and is being conducted by Naaz director of coaching, talent identification and development Phakamile Lisimati, who said its aim was to equip coaches with skills that would enrich young athletes with standard athletics techniques.

“We want to have quality coaches that will give us quality athletes, who will display outstanding performances in competitions they participate in,” said Lisimati, who is also an International Association of Athletics Federations approved coaches’ trainer.

He said the coaching clinic came at an opportune time just after the end of the track and field events season as this would give coaches ample time to learn skills that will help them develop better athletes for the coming season.

“This course will equip coaches with the latest training methods that have been scientifically tried by the IAAF and we hope this will help develop and improve the talented athletes we have by registering better results in competitions,” said Lisimati.

One of the Nust students attending the course, Kudakwashe Mhlanga, said the course was an eye opener.

“I’ve learnt that a coach should train the athlete and that each individual athlete should have their own instructions depending on their performance,” said Mhlanga.

He said the clinic had helped his understanding of the philosophy of coaching and decision-making ahead of a training session, as well as the importance of reviewing oneself and methods used. Feedback to the athlete should also be motivating and positive.

Their lecturer Bhekuzulu Khumalo said: “We’re happy with the programme and hope this is the beginning of a long-term relationship between Nust and Naaz.”

He said his department would focus on ensuring that students complete Level One and Two by the time they graduate.